Alipurduar, Nov. 1 -- The Bengal Forest department is preparing to bring back the radio-collared tigress that moved from Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) to Assam's Raimona forest area. The operation will begin after obtaining approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Forest minister Manoj Kumar Oraon said on Saturday following a meeting with Assam Forest department officials at the Kachugaon Forest Division office.

The minister said both states had jointly decided to bring the tigress back to Buxa, citing concerns over its safety and the possibility of human-wildlife conflict. According to him, the animal is healthy but currently staying in a small forest patch close to a human settlement.

"This is a dangerous situation for both the animal and people. Diwali is approaching, and firecrackers could disturb its natural behaviour and potentially lead to human-wildlife conflict. Therefore, we have jointly decided to bring it back to Buxa," Oraon said.

He added that the operation would be conducted in accordance with NTCA guidelines. "We have sought permission from the NTCA, and approval is expected by Monday. Once permission is received, the tigress will be captured either by tranquilising it or using a net. It will initially be kept in an enclosure before being released into Buxa," he said. The nearly three-year-old tigress, identified as BTR TF-1, was brought from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve and released into Buxa on October 2 as part of efforts to revive the reserve's tiger population. However, while exploring and establishing its territory, it crossed the Sankosh River and moved into Assam.

Sources in the Assam Forest department said the tigress may have sensed the presence of another tigress inside Raimona forest. It has instead taken shelter in a bamboo grove spread across around 50 bighas near Narayanpur Forest Village, approximately 8 km from the forest.

Meanwhile, a specialised team of experts from Buxa Tiger Reserve is already stationed in the area, and an Airavat rescue vehicle has reached the location. Buxa forest officials said three trained kumki elephants could also be brought in if required for the operation.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.