Tigress from West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve Safely Captured in Assam After Travelling Over 100 Km

The animal, identified as BT1, was captured during a coordinated operation involving the forest departments of Assam and West Bengal, with support from local authorities, police personnel and residents.

In a post on X, Mallabaruah described the operation as an example of effective inter-state coordination in wildlife conservation. He congratulated the teams and local communities involved in ensuring the animal's safe capture.

Tigress Travelled Through Forest Corridors

BT1 was released into the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2. It subsequently travelled more than 100 km, crossed into Assam and reached Raimona National Park in the Bodoland Territorial Region.

According to the minister, the tigress continued moving through forested areas from October 23 before approaching human settlements in Kokrajhar district. Its movement towards inhabited areas raised concerns about the safety of both local residents and the animal.

Forest officials from the two states launched a joint operation to track its movements, monitor its location and assess the potential risks. The district administration, police and local communities also assisted the teams.

The operation culminated in the safe capture of the tigress before the situation could develop into a potential human-wildlife conflict.

Inter-State Coordination in Wildlife Conservation

Mallabaruah said the incident demonstrated that wildlife movement often extends beyond administrative and state boundaries, making cooperation between neighbouring states essential.

He emphasised the importance of coordinated monitoring and timely intervention, particularly in forest corridors where large animals move between protected areas and sometimes approach human settlements.

The minister credited the forest departments, law enforcement agencies, district administration and local communities for their collective efforts, saying the safe capture of BT1 was the most important outcome.

The incident also highlights the challenges of managing wildlife movement across the interconnected forest landscapes of Northeast India, where animals frequently cross state boundaries.