First Tigress Released in Buxa Tiger Reserve

A three-year-old Royal Bengal tigress weighing 150 kg was released into the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal on 2 October 2026. The release marked the launch of the state’s first tiger reintroduction project and involved translocation from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar.

Buxa Tiger Reserve

Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal and forms part of the eastern Himalayan foothill landscape. It is a protected area in the Dooars region and is known for its forested habitat and wildlife corridors.

Tiger Reintroduction Programme

Tiger reintroduction is the planned release of tigers into an area where the species has declined or disappeared. In this case, the objective is to restore a resident tiger population in Buxa Tiger Reserve, where no tiger was recorded in the 2018 Tiger Census and only rare sightings were reported after 2012.

The Forest Department plans to introduce more tigers in phases over the next two years. The long-term target is the establishment of a viable breeding population in the reserve.

Translocation and Monitoring

The tigress was tranquilised in Valmiki Tiger Reserve and then airlifted to Hasimara airbase by an Indian Air Force C130 J Super Hercules aircraft. She was later transported by road to Buxa Tiger Reserve and kept in a specially prepared 2.2-hectare soft enclosure before release into the wild.

The tigress has been fitted with a GPS-enabled radio collar. Such collars are used to track movement, adaptation, hunting behaviour, and home-range formation in translocated carnivores.

Important Facts for Exams

• Royal Bengal tiger is the subspecies of tiger found in India and is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve is located in Bihar and is part of the Terai landscape in north India.
• GPS radio collars are commonly used in wildlife management for post-release monitoring of large carnivores.
• The Dooars region lies in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas and includes important forest and wildlife habitats.

Ecological Context

Buxa Tiger Reserve is part of a forest ecosystem that supports prey species, predators, and habitat connectivity in north Bengal. The reintroduction programme is linked with long-term wildlife management in the reserve and the wider landscape.

The initiative also involves phased addition of more tigers and tigresses to support population recovery in the reserve.