Kolkata: The Buxa Tiger Reintroduction Project will enter a crucial phase on Sunday, with expert teams beginning efforts to capture a tigress from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Preparations were briefly disrupted by monsoon rains, but National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials expect the capture to be completed between Sept 20 and 28.The first tigress is scheduled to be released into a 2.2-hectare soft-release enclosure at Buxa Tiger Reserve in north Bengal on Oct 2. Experts had initially shortlisted 10 to 12 big cats, mostly young tigers that had recently separated from their mothers and were seeking independent territories. The list was later narrowed to three or four candidates for the first phase, which may also include a male tiger.The capture will be carried out jointly by teams from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Valmiki Tiger Reserve and Bengal forest departments, including personnel from Buxa and the Sundarbans.“Besides navigating difficult terrain amid ongoing rains, field teams must contend with the elusive nature of Valmiki tigers. Unlike big cats in tourist-heavy parks, these animals are shy and routinely retreat at the sight of forest or tourist vehicles,” said an NTCA source.Under the operational protocol, WII and Valmiki teams will handle tranquilisation and capture. Once secured, the Bengal team will take charge of receiving the animal and transporting it to Buxa.Authorities may now opt for road transport instead of the earlier plan to airlift the tigers. Two specialised animal ambulances have already arrived at Valmiki from north Bengal. The vehicles are equipped with hydraulic gates and ramps, secure enclosed holding areas and emergency medical facilities to ensure safe transit to Buxa.
