Translocation of tigress aims to boost Buxa Tiger Reserve population
On October 2, 2026, a three-year-old tigress from Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar was released into Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal as part of efforts to enhance the local tiger population and habitat conditions.
On October 2, 2026, a three-year-old tigress named T138 was moved from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar to the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal. This marks the first translocation of its kind in eastern India, part of a strategy to restore the tiger population in Buxa while improving habitat connectivity and prey availability. Establishing T138 in her new home is considered a major milestone for regional conservation.
The Valmiki Tiger Reserve has undergone a significant recovery after years of low tiger counts and habitat loss. Before the Supreme Court intervened in 1995, the area was hampered by illegal mining and environmental degradation. Once those mining operations were shut down, the landscape began to heal, bringing back prey species and eventually the tigers themselves. Capturing T138 from a now-thriving section of Valmiki underscores the progress made in managing the reserve.
The Wildlife Trust of India and local authorities collaborated on the move, coordinating the tigress's release into Buxa Tiger Reserve. Buxa has struggled to maintain a resident tiger population in the past, and T138 is intended to help anchor a new one. She was chosen for her proven hunting abilities and her lack of negative interactions with humans, traits that make her well-suited for this new environment.
Beyond increasing the number of tigers in Buxa, this translocation offers wider ecological advantages. Reintroducing these predators helps balance the ecosystem by managing prey numbers. If a new population can be successfully established, it may also support local economies through increased tourism and conservation funding, aiding both wildlife protection and the surrounding communities.
The progress of T138 will be monitored closely as conservationists work toward a self-sustaining breeding population that strengthens local genetic diversity. This project serves as a template for future tiger conservation in India, demonstrating how coordinated efforts can lead to the recovery of wildlife and the restoration of their natural habitats.
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