Buxa tigress rescue operation enters final stage near Assam border
West Bengal Forest Department has obtained necessary permissions to capture the animal and return it to Buxa National Park.
The rescue operation for a Buxa tigress has reached its final stage after the West Bengal Forest Department received permission from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Union Environment Ministry to capture the animal, according to Urban Acres.
Forest Minister of State Manoj Oraon said on Tuesday that the tigress might be tranquilised or caged if conditions are suitable. The animal moved from Buxa into Assam’s Raimona National Park after being released in Buxa on October 2.
Forest officials have been monitoring the tigress through a radio collar, which allows them to track her resting spots and movement direction, Oraon said. The department initially planned to let the animal return naturally through forest corridors, but changed its approach after she moved closer to inhabited areas over the last two to three days.
Oraon stated that there is no reason for residents to panic as forest teams are present in the area and no untoward incidents have been reported. He described the tigress as shy, noting she has tried to avoid people and moved into cover when encountering habitation.
A team of specialists from North Bengal has been sent to Assam to assist with the operation, which is being conducted with support from the Assam government. Experts will assess weather and surrounding conditions before the main rescue process begins.
If the operation is successful, the tigress is expected to be returned to the Buxa forest within two to three days, depending on the decisions of wildlife experts.