A tigress from West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve was safely captured in Assam’s Kokrajhar district after travelling over 100 km and approaching human settlements. Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah praised the coordinated efforts of forest departments, police and local communities.
A tigress from West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve, which travelled more than 100 km across state boundaries before reaching human settlements in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, has been safely captured following a coordinated operation involving forest officials from Assam and West Bengal.
Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced the successful operation on Tuesday, describing it as an important example of inter-state cooperation and collective commitment to wildlife conservation. He congratulated the forest departments of both states, district administration, police personnel and local communities for their coordinated efforts in ensuring the animal’s safety.
According to the information shared by the minister on social media platform X, the tigress, identified as BT1, was originally released into the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal on October 2. However, after her release, the animal travelled more than 100 km through forested landscapes and crossed into Assam.
During her movement, BT1 eventually reached Raimona National Park in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The tigress continued moving through different forest areas from October 23 onwards before approaching human settlements in Kokrajhar district.
Her movement towards inhabited areas raised concerns about the safety of both local residents and the animal. Considering the potential risks, forest officials from Assam and West Bengal initiated a coordinated operation to track her movements, monitor her location and assess the developing situation.
The operation involved close cooperation between the forest departments of the two states, with assistance from the district administration, police personnel and local communities. Their combined efforts eventually led to the safe capture of the tigress, preventing a potentially dangerous human-wildlife conflict situation.
Minister Mallabaruah praised the officials and other personnel involved, stating that the successful operation demonstrated the importance of coordination between neighbouring states in protecting wildlife. He noted that animal movements are not restricted by administrative boundaries, making cooperation between different state authorities essential for effective conservation.
The minister also highlighted that wildlife movement frequently extends beyond protected forest areas, particularly in regions connected through natural forest corridors. In such circumstances, timely information sharing, coordinated monitoring and joint intervention become crucial to protecting both wildlife and people living near forest areas.
“BT1 is safe, and that is what matters most,” Mallabaruah said while appreciating the efforts of everyone involved in the operation.
The successful capture also highlights the importance of maintaining effective wildlife monitoring systems across the forest landscapes of Northeast India. The region is home to diverse wildlife species, and large mammals often move across protected areas, forest corridors and administrative boundaries in search of suitable habitats and resources.
The movement of the tigress from Buxa Tiger Reserve to Raimona National Park and subsequently towards human settlements in Kokrajhar demonstrates the challenges faced by forest authorities in managing wildlife movement across state boundaries.
The incident also underlines the need for stronger coordination between forest departments, law enforcement agencies, district administrations and local communities to respond quickly when wild animals move close to populated areas.
| Also Read: India-Israel Ties Gain Renewed Momentum Under Modi and Netanyahu Leadership |
The safe capture of BT1 has been welcomed as a positive outcome for wildlife protection, demonstrating how joint efforts and timely intervention can help prevent human-wildlife conflict while ensuring the safety of animals.
The coordinated operation involving Assam and West Bengal has further reinforced the importance of collaborative conservation initiatives across the Northeast’s interconnected forest landscapes.
