Alipurduar, Oct. 28 -- The three-year-old tigress translocated from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve to Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), which later moved into Assam's Raimona Tiger Reserve, has raised concerns after venturing towards human settlements. Identified as BTR TF-1, the tigress appears to have moved further southeast from Rajendrapur forest village, bringing temporary relief to residents.

For a few days, villagers under Assam's Kochugaon Forest Division had been living in fear of the tigress. However, no sightings or signs of her presence were reported in Rajendrapur after Tuesday night.

Radio-collar signals analysed by forest officials indicated on Wednesday that the tigress had reached Hatigarh Forest village, around 20 kilometre from Rajendrapur and near Raimona Tiger Reserve. Despite its official designation as a forest village, Hatigarh reportedly has a relatively dense population.

Rajendrapur village head Mrigendra Narzinary said: "We have spent the past few days in extreme fear. This morning, the Assam Forest department assured us that there was no longer any reason to panic. However, we have been advised to remain cautious at night."

The tigress's unpredictable movements have kept the forest departments of Assam and Bengal, along with experts from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), on high alert.

Initially, officials believed she was exploring the landscape after leaving Buxa through the recognised wildlife corridor connecting Assam, Bengal and Bhutan. However, her movement towards populated areas has raised concerns about possible human-wildlife conflict.

The Assam Forest department has decided to deploy additional personnel to intensify monitoring and reassess measures to protect both residents and the tigress.

A senior Assam Forest department official said: "We have to exercise extra caution now. The task is much easier when a tiger stays inside the forest. But human settlements are certainly not safe places for wild animals."

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