Tigress rescue near Assam settlement awaits NTCA approval
West Bengal Forest Minister of State Manoj Kumar Oraon said the animal will be returned to Buxa forest once permission is granted.
A tigress that moved from West Bengal’s Buxa forest into Assam’s Raimona National Park is awaiting National Tiger Conservation Authority approval for rescue, according to Urban Acres.
West Bengal Forest Minister of State Manoj Kumar Oraon said on Saturday that the animal has stayed in a 30 to 35 hectare bamboo grove for two days. The location is near a populated settlement, which makes the operation sensitive for residents and the animal.
Oraon, who met senior forest officials in Assam on Saturday, stated that West Bengal has sent a letter seeking permission. The Assam government has also written to the NTCA regarding the matter.
The tigress was released in Buxa forest on 2 October and has travelled about 100 kilometres from that location. While she had stayed away from human habitations for the last eight to ten days, she has recently moved closer to settlements.
Officials have prepared multiple capture methods, including tranquilising or using a net, depending on site conditions. The minister noted that the upcoming Diwali period adds urgency because firecracker noise could increase the risk of encounters with residents.
Forest officials from both states are coordinating the rescue and the subsequent transport of the tigress back to Buxa forest.