A Bengal tigress from West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve was safely captured in Assam after travelling more than 100 kilometres across forested areas and reaching parts of Kokrajhar district, triggering concerns over possible human-wildlife conflict.
The tigress, identified as BT1, was captured during a coordinated operation involving forest officials from West Bengal and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), along with the district administration, police and local communities.
According to forest officials, BT1 was released into the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2, 2026. It subsequently moved across the state border into Assam and reached Raimona National Park in the BTR.
From October 23 onwards, the tigress continued moving through different forested areas before approaching human settlements in Kokrajhar district. Her movement towards populated areas raised concerns about the safety of local residents as well as the animal.
Following reports of the tigress’s movement, the forest departments of West Bengal and the BTR initiated a joint monitoring and rescue operation. Forest personnel closely tracked her location and movements, while the district administration, police and local communities extended support to the operation.
Officials said coordinated efforts were undertaken to ensure that the animal could be captured safely and without causing harm to people or the tigress.
The successful operation highlighted the importance of coordination between forest departments and authorities across state and administrative boundaries, particularly when wildlife moves beyond protected forest areas.
The movement of BT1 from Buxa Tiger Reserve to Raimona National Park and adjoining areas also underlined the need for effective wildlife monitoring and timely intervention to reduce the possibility of human-animal conflict.
Forest officials said the operation demonstrated how cooperation between government agencies and local communities can help manage such situations while prioritising wildlife safety and public security.
