GUWAHATI: A tigress that ventured over 100 kilometres from West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve into Assam was safely captured in a joint operation involving forest departments from West Bengal and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), along with local authorities and community members.
Designated as BT1, the tigress was released into the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2, 2026. Following her release, she traversed inter-state boundaries to reach Raimona National Park in Assam’s BTR sector, according to forest officials.
Starting October 23, the animal navigated through forested corridors before straying dangerously close to human settlements in the Kokrajhar district of Assam, raising safety concerns among local residents and wildlife officials.
In response, the forest departments of West Bengal and Bodoland initiated a synchronized monitoring and capture operation, supported by district administration personnel, local police, and resident volunteers. Tracking teams monitored the feline’s path continuously, employing strategic measures to tranquilize and secure her safely. Officials highlighted that the successful rescue underscores the critical necessity of inter-state institutional coordination in managing cross-boundary wildlife movements and mitigating potential human-wildlife conflicts.
Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah commended the rescue teams, characterizing the operation as an exemplary demonstration of inter-state administrative synergy and shared ecological commitment. He extended congratulations to the forest personnel of both West Bengal and Bodoland for ensuring the animal’s safe retrieval.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com