Kolkata, Sep 22 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said a Royal Bengal Tiger will soon be translocated to Buxa Tiger Reserve, where the number of resident big cats has come down to zero over the years.
Inaugurating a Rhino gallery at Subhasini tea garden in Alipurduar district on the occasion of World Rhino Day, the CM pledged his resolve to save wildlife and natural resources.
“A Royal Bengal Tiger will be released in Buxa soon, possibly by October 2, as part of our objective to relocate tigers in wildlife-rich areas and make it an ideal destination for tourists,” he said.
Though the chief minister did not mention from where the big cat would be brought to Buxa, forest department officials said the place is Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve. They also said that the translocated animal would be a tigress.
The officials said that though Buxa now has no resident tiger, migrating tigers have been spotted via camera traps twice since 2023.
“Those tigers have been found via camera traps in the West Rajabhatkhawa Range of Buxa. The first case was in December 2023 and the latest one was in January this year,” a forest department official said.
The tigers might have come from the forests of neighbouring Bhutan or Assam, he said.
Adhikari alleged wildlife trafficking was rampant during the TMC and Left Front regime, and poachers had a free run, hunting animals and taking away their body parts.
“We are determined to put an end to trafficking and arrest poachers and save wildlife,” he said.
Adhikari inaugurated a gallery of one-horned rhino at the tea estate and said it would encourage youngsters to learn about their flora and fauna.
West Bengal Forest Minister Jual Oram was present along with other senior forest officials.
(PTI News)
