Alipurduar, Nov. 9 -- The Buxa tigress, BTR TF-1, has gone missing again, barely five days after her movements were last traced, triggering a massive deployment of around 150 forest personnel and three kumki elephants for safety. Forest officials believe she may be heading towards Assam, raising questions over how she managed to evade intensive surveillance.
According to Forest department, on Sunday, BTR TF-1 reportedly escaped from the 2.2-acre open enclosure near 25 Mile Tower by digging a tunnel. Since then, she has continued moving eastwards, crossing the Bala River, Jayanti settlement and Jayanti River. Forest officials believe the tigress is currently sheltering in a dense forest near Chunia Tower, around 15 kilometre east of 25 Mile Tower.
The satellite-based, high-frequency radio collar fitted around her neck is being monitored every hour, while ground-level surveillance has also been intensified. The Forest department has alerted its counterpart in Assam, as the tigress appears to be following her familiar corridor towards Raimona Tiger Reserve. A detailed inspection of the enclosure on Monday revealed that the tigress had attempted to dig tunnels at no fewer than 16 locations. Eventually, she found soft soil beside the same gate through which she had entered and excavated an escape route using her front paws.
On Monday, the Forest minister visited the enclosure near 25 Mile Tower. Addressing a press conference, he said: "We did not bring the Queen of Dooars here to keep her confined in a cage. As per the NTCA's instructions, she had to be released within 10 days. We will try to ensure that she stays in Buxa. But if she returns to Assam again, who can stop her?"
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.