States » EastPosted at: Oct 27 2026 7:21PM


Tigress exploring its natural habitat, no question of bringing it back: Bengal Forest Minister

Siliguri, Oct 27 (UNI) The three-year-old tigress released into Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2 is exploring a large area before settling in its territory, West Bengal Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon has said, dismissing reports that the animal has fled Bengal for Assam.
The tigress was brought from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve and released at Jayanti in Buxa. Since then, it has been moving through the forest corridor connecting Buxa, the Dooars and Assam.
Speaking to a private television channel, Oraon said the movement was natural and there was no plan to tranquilise the tigress and bring it back. The Forest Department was monitoring its movements in coordination with officials in Assam, he said.
“We are thinking in one way, but the tigress is not thinking in the same way. It does not know what Bengal, Bihar, Assam or Bhutan is. It follows its natural instincts,” the minister said.
He said officials were initially concerned when the animal remained within a radius of around one to one-and-a-half kilometres after its release. They were reassured when it began exploring a wider area.
Oraon said released tigers sometimes travel 70 to 80 kilometres before establishing their territories. The tigress had also hunted and eaten a wild boar, indicating that it was adapting to life in the wild and was in good health.
The animal is being tracked through its radio collar, with the field director, divisional forest officers and other officials coordinating with their counterparts in Assam. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has also been informed and is monitoring the situation. The minister said the NTCA had advised against tranquilising and relocating the tigress under the present circumstances.
The department expects the animal to establish its territory within the next one-and-a-half to two months. Meanwhile, forest personnel are monitoring the possibility of it moving towards human settlements and remain alert to prevent any untoward incident.
Oraon also said the department planned to release two or three more tigers in Buxa in phases to strengthen the reserve's tiger population.
“Once a tiger is released, it has to be given the freedom to move. We will not disturb it,” he said, stressing that the animal should be allowed to follow its natural instincts rather than being restricted by administrative boundaries.
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