The Buxa tigress is still inside BTR limits, said sources
Gopal — also a member of the NTCA expert panel formed to oversee the Buxa tiger reintroduction project — questioned the lengthy transportation route, involving a four-hour road journey to Gorakhpur, a 2.5-hour flight aboard an IAF aircraft to Hasimara and another road journey to Buxa. The report, sent to authorities on Oct 27, also recommended sourcing tigers from Assam ’s Manas or Kaziranga in future to minimise travel time and stress.
Kolkata: In a review meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) last month, Global Tiger Forum secretary general Rajesh Gopal, who chaired the meet, criticised the “hurried release of injured tigress” into the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve. The Oct 15 review meeting observed that the tigress, brought from Bihar’s Valmiki, should not have been released despite “visible injuries to all the claws of her forepaws”.
A copy of which is with TOI , the tigress was in good health and without any injury when she was darted in Valmiki on Sept 29, according to the meeting minutes. By the time she reached Hasimara on Sept 30, she was awake, aggressive and charging at the cage gates,” it said. “A veterinary examination on Oct 1 found abrasion injuries on the paw pads of both forelimbs, with the claws appearing filed or worn out. An official, though, said the tigress made kills, both wild herbivores and domestic pigs, after she left the acclimatisation enclosure on Oct 4.
a second (half dose) was given around 10.18pm as she was “displaying resedation effects” While the first reversal antidote was administered around 5.52pm. It was observed that the injuries occurred after the reversal of the immobilising drugs,” said the report. “But, she struggled inside the transport cage during the journey. It was suggested that her release should have been deferred until the injuries’ extent was assessed and treatment prescribed.
Sources also alleged lapses during the tigress’s recent capture near Raimona in Assam on Nov 3, questioning the lack of coordination. Sources said she had made several such attempts since she was brought back to Buxa from Assam on Nov 3. – Pinak Priya Bhattacharya You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news. “Efforts are being made so that it can’t cross Sankosh and reach Assam again.
No lessons have been learnt from the Zeenat episode,” a source said. Sources also wondered if permission from NTCA to capture the tigress in Assam “had actually arrived”, raising questions over procedural clearances and pointing to NTCA’s possible reluctance in giving the nod, particularly after the outcome of the Oct 15 review meeting. We are getting more elephants from nearby divisions for this operation,” said a source.
“If landscape management was an issue, why were Assam officials not invited for the release? Why was a joint monitoring protocol not followed? They are imposing central Indian landscape experience here. Calls to senior NTCA officials and Bengal forest minister Manoj Kumar Oraon remained unanswered. Download the TOI App.
Tigress still inside Buxa The Buxa tigress, which escaped from her enclosure on Sunday, is said to be still inside the Buxa Tiger Reserve limits. She was last located in the Kumargramduar area on Monday afternoon and was being monitored by tracking teams and three kunki elephants, said sources. The tigress dug a hole beneath the enclosure on Sunday afternoon to get out.