Guwahati: The alleged miscarriage of a three-year-old tigress translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve to West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve, which later strayed into Assam’s Raimona National Park, has raised concerns among wildlife experts over the handling of the animal and the procedures followed during her capture.The tigress was reportedly around two months pregnant when she was tranquilised and captured. The West Bengal forest department learnt about the miscarriage on Nov 7, days before the animal escaped from her enclosure at Buxa.Experts questioned why the tigress’s reproductive and overall health conditions were not assessed adequately before the translocation and capture operations. They said the biggest lapse was proceeding with the translocation without a comprehensive evaluation of the animal’s physiological condition and without ensuring appropriate veterinary care.“The amount of times she was tranquillised, a miscarriage was quite obvious. The biggest mistake was planning the translocation without first conducting a proper health assessment of the tigress. Her physiological and reproductive condition should have been evaluated, and adequate veterinary care and monitoring should have been ensured. The established animal-monitoring protocols were not followed, and repeated tranquillisation should have been accompanied by immediate veterinary observation,” a tiger conservationist said on condition of anonymity.Explaining the precautions required during such operations, he said tranquilisation was a high-risk procedure requiring detailed planning and experienced veterinary personnel.“Before tranquillising an animal, its health condition and approximate body weight must be assessed, as the dosage of sedatives depends on its weight and physical condition. The location must also be carefully selected to ensure that the animal does not fall into a water body or a deep pit after losing consciousness,” the expert said.Another veterinary officer said drugs such as ketamine and xylazine required careful assessment before administration, as underlying health complications, including respiratory or internal problems, could increase the risks associated with sedation.“Immediately after tranquillisation, the animal’s vital parameters, including heartbeat, breathing and body temperature, must be continuously monitored. Emergency medical equipment and veterinary assistance should be available throughout the procedure. The animal should also be observed during its recovery,” he added.Experts also stressed the need for post-tranquilisation care, saying animals should generally be kept under observation for around seven days, with regular monitoring of their physical condition and movements.The veterinary officer also stressed the importance of following a soft-release protocol before before a translocated tiger is released into the wild. He said the animal should first be kept in a secure enclosure for acclimatisation, where its health, behaviour and physical condition can be monitored.A tiger should be released only after experts are satisfied that it has recovered sufficiently and is fit to survive in its natural habitat, he said.
