Tiger Reintroduction in Buxa Tiger Reserve: T-138 Moves into Assam

31 Oct 2026

Tags: Environment   Conservation   Protection frameworks

Source: The Indian Express

T-138: Recent Developments

• Translocation: A three-year-old GPS-tagged tigress, T-138, was brought from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve to West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve on September 30, 2026, to help re-establish a stable tiger population.
• First-of-its-kind initiative: The operation marked the first successful inter-State airlift of a tiger in India for a reintroduction initiative.
• Movement into Assam: After exploring Buxa, the tigress travelled approximately 35 km into Assam’s Raimona National Park, near the India–Bhutan border.
• Forest department response: West Bengal forest officials reached Raimona to track the tigress. Authorities are monitoring its movements and may tranquilise and relocate it if necessary. Concerns have also emerged among local residents over possible livestock attacks and interactions with resident tigers.

Why Is Tiger Reintroduction Necessary in Buxa?

• Location and area: Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in Alipurduar district, northern West Bengal, and covers approximately 760 sq km.
• Declining tiger population: Habitat degradation, land-use changes and reduced prey availability have weakened Buxa’s capacity to sustain a stable resident tiger population.
• Conservation objective: T-138’s introduction forms part of a phased programme to restore the tiger population and improve the ecological condition of this historically important tiger landscape.
• Ecological significance: Tigers are apex predators whose presence can help maintain ecological balance and indicate the health of forest ecosystems.

Why Do Tigers Move Across Large Distances?

• Territorial exploration: Tigers may travel considerable distances while searching for suitable habitat, prey, mates and territory.
• Landscape connectivity: Movement across forest corridors is important for dispersal, genetic exchange and long-term population viability.
• Human–wildlife conflict: Tigers entering settlements or livestock-rearing areas may trigger fear and retaliatory responses, requiring coordinated monitoring and conflict mitigation.

Previous Example: Tigress Zeenat

• Long-distance movement: In December 2024, tigress Zeenat travelled approximately 300 km from Odisha’s Similipal landscape into forests of West Bengal.
• Capture and coordination: She was captured on December 29, 2024, after 21 days on the move, with forest departments of both States involved in the operation.
• Key lesson: Large carnivore movements require inter-State coordination, GPS-based tracking and carefully planned capture or relocation when necessary.

Important Protected Areas for UPSC

• Buxa Tiger Reserve: Located in northern West Bengal; part of the Eastern Himalayan foothill landscape.
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve: Located in West Champaran district, Bihar, along the India–Nepal border.
• Raimona National Park: Located in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, near the India–Bhutan border.
• Similipal Tiger Reserve: Located in Odisha; known for its forests, rich biodiversity and tiger conservation landscape.

Conservation Significance and Way Forward

• Habitat restoration: Improve prey availability, forest quality and connectivity between protected areas.
• Scientific translocation: Assess habitat suitability, prey density, carrying capacity and the risk of conflict before releasing tigers.
• Inter-State cooperation: Coordinate tracking, veterinary support and emergency response across State boundaries.
• Community participation: Provide timely alerts, livestock protection and compensation mechanisms to reduce conflict with local communities.

Conclusion: T-138’s movement into Assam highlights that tiger conservation extends beyond the boundaries of individual reserves. Successful reintroduction requires suitable habitat, ecological connectivity, scientific monitoring and cooperation between forest departments and local communities.