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Tiger Release Delayed: Monsoon & Village Shifts Cause Hold-up
2 Jul
Summary
- Tiger augmentation project in Buxa delayed until October 2.
- Monsoon season and village relocation issues caused the postponement.
- Tigress from Bihar's Valmiki Reserve is slated for first release.
The much-anticipated tiger augmentation project in West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve has been rescheduled to October 2. State Forest Minister Manoj Oraon cited the current monsoon season and challenges in smoothly relocating villages from within the reserve as reasons for the delay. This new date aligns with the commencement of National Wildlife Week, and it is anticipated that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav may attend.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had previously discussed the difficulties of capturing and transporting tigers during the monsoon. The plan is to release a tigress from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve first, with further discussions between the West Bengal and Bihar governments already initiated. Additional tigers may later be brought from reserves in Assam.
Meanwhile, the relocation of villages within the Buxa Tiger Reserve is progressing. Bhutia Basti and Gangutia have been successfully shifted, and the relocation of Jayanti village is nearing completion, with a vast majority of its families agreeing to move.
