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Bengal & Assam Unite to Recapture Stray Tigress
3 Nov
Summary
- A tigress straying from Buxa was captured in Assam after a joint operation.
- Three kunki elephants and heavy machinery were used in the rescue effort.
- This marks the tigress's third tranquilization within a 34-day period.
A tigress, which had strayed from West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve into Assam's Raimona National Park, was safely captured in the Gilaguri area of Dotma revenue village on Tuesday. The two-hour operation involved a coordinated effort from forest, police, and administrative personnel from both Assam and West Bengal, supported by three kunki elephants from Bengal and earthmoving equipment.
The tigress was successfully tranquilized and is being returned to Buxa Tiger Reserve, where she will be housed in a dedicated acclimatization enclosure. This successful capture followed two previous tranquilizations of the same animal within the past 34 days, including one on September 29 and another on October 1 at Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve for radio collar refitting.
The operation, which received necessary clearances from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was challenging due to the tigress's elusiveness. Forest teams tracked the radio-collared animal for days across Raimona National Park after she crossed the Sankosh River. Her movements near human settlements, particularly with Kali Puja festivities approaching, prompted the decision for capture.
Officials noted that while the tigress had not been involved in any human conflict, her proximity to villages like Boraguri, situated about five to six kilometers from a highway stretch, raised concerns. The operation involved over 30 personnel from the Bengal forest department, Bodoland Territorial Council's forest department, and the Wildlife Institute of India.
