Tigress T138 released in Buxa, marks start of tiger reintroduction programme

Buxa: A three-year-old tigress, T138, was released into the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal on Friday, marking the beginning of a phased programme to reintroduce tigers and establish a viable, self-sustaining population in the reserve.

The tigress was translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve and released in the presence of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Adhikari said three more tigers would be released in Buxa in the next two months, and the initiative would not only help in conservation of wildlife but also in boosting tourism in the region.

The release is part of a larger effort to revive the big cat population in Buxa, which had not had a resident tiger population for several years.