Bhupender Yadav visits Buxa Tiger Reserve for historic tigress release
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav reviews preparations for West Bengal's first-ever tiger reintroduction project at Buxa Tiger Reserve.
In a landmark move for wildlife conservation in West Bengal, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, conducted a jungle safari at the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) on Thursday. The visit served as a final review of the ground-level preparations for the highly anticipated release of a three-year-old Royal Bengal tigress into the wild.
This initiative marks the beginning of West Bengal's first-ever tiger reintroduction project. The tigress, which was translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve, is currently being housed in a temporary enclosure before her scheduled release into the core forest area this Friday. The timing is symbolic, as the release coincides with the nationwide commencement of National Wildlife Week.
Restoring the Apex Predator to Buxa
During his inspection, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized the historical importance of bringing big cats back to the reserve. He noted that while tigers had been spotted during a 2012 estimation, a 2018 census confirmed that the species had completely vanished from the Buxa landscape.
"National Wildlife Week begins across the country tomorrow, and as the very first event of this week, we will be releasing a tigress here," Yadav stated. He highlighted that Buxa is a premier eco-tourism destination, strategically located between Assam’s Manas Tiger Reserve and a national sanctuary in Bhutan.
The Minister further noted that this conservation effort is part of a broader national mission. He mentioned that while the tigress is being released in West Bengal, the government is also working to release the endangered Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan's Thar Desert, maintaining a balance between ecology and the economy.
Boosting Eco-Tourism and Regional Growth
Accompanying the Minister, Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga pointed out that the region had suffered from neglect for over three decades. He stressed that the reintroduction of tigers is not just a conservation victory but a vital step for the local economy.
- Tourism Boost: The presence of tigers is expected to significantly increase wildlife tourism in the district.
- Ecological Restoration: Establishing a viable tiger population is essential for Buxa, which stands alongside the Sundarbans as one of West Bengal's designated tiger reserves.
- Long-term Vision: The goal is to move beyond a single release and build a sustainable, growing population of apex predators.
Preparedness for a Growing Population
West Bengal Minister of State for Home and Hill Affairs, Bishal Lama, expressed strong confidence in the success of the project. He confirmed that the tigress is currently being kept in a specially constructed 5-acre enclosure to ensure she is ready for her transition to the wild.
Lama remarked that the vastness of the Buxa forest provides ample carrying capacity for the species. He estimated that the environment is now favorable enough to eventually sustain a population of 10 to 15 tigers in the coming years, restoring the forest to its natural, predator-rich state.