Overview
On 2 October 2026 a three‑year‑old tigress, identified as T138, was translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve and released in the Buxa Tiger Reserve. The release marks the start of a phased programme to re‑establish a self‑sustaining tiger population in a reserve that has been largely tiger‑free for years.
Key Developments
- Release conducted in the presence of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- Initial acclimatisation in a 2.3‑hectare enclosure before full release.
- Intensive post‑release monitoring using telemetry, camera traps and field observations.
- Plans to add two to three more tigers to the reserve in the near future.
Important Facts
The reserve spans 760.87 sq km across Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri district. It connects northward to Bhutan’s forests, eastward to the Kochugaon forests and Manas Tiger Reserve, and westward to Jaldapara National Park, forming a crucial wildlife corridor. Habitat degradation, anthropogenic pressure and loss of prey have caused a prolonged absence of resident tigers.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve was chosen as the source because it lies in the Terai Arc Landscape, offering terrain similar to Buxa. Translocation from the Sundarbans was ruled out due to stark habitat differences.
The initiative follows the NTCA re‑introduction protocol, which has previously succeeded in Sariska, Panna and other reserves, though not uniformly.
Exam Relevance
Understanding tiger re‑introduction touches upon several UPSC themes: wildlife conservation policy (GS3), inter‑state coordination for habitat corridors, the role of statutory bodies like NTCA, and the socio‑economic challenges of relocating human settlements for biodiversity goals. The case also illustrates the practical application of the Project Tiger framework, even though the term is not explicitly used in the article.
Way Forward
- Complete the phased addition of 2‑3 tigers and monitor breeding success.
- Continue relocation of nearby villages (≈300 families) to reduce human‑tiger conflict.
- Strengthen corridor connectivity with Bhutan and neighboring reserves.
- Address infrastructure threats such as railway lines and heavy traffic on the Bhutan‑West Bengal road.
- Implement community‑based awareness programmes to garner local support.