Villages Block Buxa's Big Cat Comeback Plan

The ambitious plan to introduce tigers from Assam to the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has been postponed. This delay is primarily due to the presence of several villages situated within the reserve's core forest area, which are essential for creating an undisturbed habitat for the big cats.

The forest department is actively engaged in relocating these villages to areas outside the reserve, a process that has encountered some initial challenges but is progressing. Families from Bhutiabasti and Gangutia have already been moved, and plans are underway to resettle residents from the larger Jayanti village and surrounding areas, adhering to national conservation guidelines.

This relocation strategy is a common method to minimize human-tiger conflict and foster a thriving big cat population. While a tiger was last camera-trapped in late 2023, potentially moving through the Bhutan-Buxa-Manas corridor, the reserve awaits the introduction of at least 12 tigers from Assam to establish a viable population. Tigers will not be introduced from the Sundarbans due to habitat differences.