States » EastPosted at: Oct 2 2026 9:42AM


'Once again, Buxa’s forests will reverberate with tiger roar”: CM Adhikari

Siliguri, Oct 2 (UNI) “Once again, Buxa’s forests will reverberate with the roar of the tiger,” Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, as Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district prepares to welcome a tigress on Friday, marking the return of tigers to the reserve after a long wait.
The three-year-old tigress, brought from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve, arrived at Buxa on Wednesday after being flown to Hasimara Air Force Station in a special Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft and transported by road to the reserve.
The tigress is scheduled to be released into the Buxa forests at around 10.30 am on Friday by Chief Minister Adhikari in the presence of union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, state Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon, and senior Forest Department officials.
Adhikari said the joint initiative of the West Bengal government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would help restore Buxa’s biodiversity and create new opportunities for nature tourism and the local economy across the Dooars.
Describing the programme as a historic chapter in the state’s wildlife conservation efforts, the Chief Minister said the tiger reintroduction would also contribute to maintaining ecological balance in the region.
The Forest Department has made extensive preparations for the reintroduction. The prey base in the reserve has been strengthened through the release of deer, while further releases may be undertaken if required. More tigers are also planned to be introduced in phases, with the long-term objective of establishing a viable breeding population in Buxa.
Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon has described the initiative as a “historic” step for Bengal. He said wild boars and rhinos would also be released in phases to strengthen the wildlife population of the reserve.
A major programme has been organised at the Alipurduar Parade Ground, where the release will be shown live to a large gathering. Chief Minister Adhikari is scheduled to attend the programme at 11 am after the release.
The return of the tiger has generated considerable excitement among local residents, who see the reintroduction as an opportunity to strengthen tourism and improve livelihoods.
Shibu Saha, a 50-year-old small trader from Rajabhatkhawa, said, “When we were children, our parents used to scare us by saying that there were tigers here. We believed them. But later, we saw that there were no tigers here. It feels very good that tigers are coming back. Their return will boost tourism, and that will also benefit people like us.”
Another local resident, Narayan Lohar, echoed the sentiment: “If tigers come back, tourists will come. If tourists come, our income and livelihood will improve.”
The reintroduction is being seen as an important step towards restoring Buxa’s wildlife heritage while creating a stronger link between conservation, tourism and the livelihoods of people living around the reserve.
UNI MBN ARN
Tags: #''Once again# Buxa’s forests will reverberate with tiger roar”: CM Adhikari
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