The three-year-old tigress, Dooars Rani, was tranquilised in Kokrajhar district after travelling over 100 km from her release site.
The three-year-old tigress Dooars Rani, West Bengal's first relocated tigress, was tranquilised and caged in Assam's Kokrajhar district on Tuesday evening, according to The Indian Express. Forest department officials from West Bengal and Assam conducted a joint operation to capture the animal in the Gilaguri area of Dotma at approximately 5.30 pm.
The tigress, also known as T-138, was originally translocated from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve and released into the Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2. She strayed from the reserve and crossed into Assam's Raimona National Park, travelling over 100 km from Buxa.
West Bengal Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon said the operation involved three elephants from Bengal, earthmovers, nets, and teams with tranquiliser guns. Oraon stated that the tigress would be brought back to the Buxa Tiger Reserve and noted that the animal is safe and healthy.
Sonali Ghosh, chief of the forest department in the Bodoland Territorial Region, said the tigress moved through forested landscapes before nearing settlements at Kokrajhar. The Deccan Herald reported that her location was tracked using a radio collar installed by Bengal forest personnel.
The Buxa Tiger Reserve was declared a tiger reserve in 1983. The release of the tigress was part of a phased recovery plan for the area, which has seen a decline in prey availability and habitat degradation according to the Ministry of Environment.
