Two to three more tigers are likely to be added to the reserve which has not recorded much presence of tigers over the past few years. On October 2, 2026 a three-year-old tigress, T138, was released into the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal marking the beginning of a phased programme to reintroduce tigers and establish a viable, self-sustaining population in the reserve.
The tigress was translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve and released in the presence of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Scientists and forest officials were looking for a similar habitat like Buxa from where the tiger may be brought to the reserve. West Bengal has a thriving tiger population in the Sundarbans, the only mangrove forest in the world to have tigers.
Because of the similarities in terrain with Buxa, bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve which lies in the eastern most part of the Terai Arc Landscape, was considered suitable for tiger augmentation. Because of the vast differences in the terrain and the habitat, however, translocating tigers from Sundarban to Buxa may not have worked. The National Tiger Conservation Authority found that there were no tigers at Buxa, Dampa and Palamu tiger reserves it initiated a programme of reintroduction of tigers in 2018, which has resulted in re-introduction of tigers at Buxa. As per the last census, the Indian Sundarbans is home to about 100 tigers in the unique mangrove ecosystem.
Considering these challenges in mind, the NTCA has prepared a protocol on tiger re-introduction. The protocol deals with aims and objectives of reintroduction, constitution of team, pre-project activities, conducting feasibility study, selection and evaluation of site, suitability of release stock of tigers, socio-economic requirements, preparation for release and post release activities.
A publication titled “Reintroduction & Population Recovery of Tigers in India: Field Experiences & Key Learnings” released by NTCA and WII earlier this year has pointed out that relocation of tigers in Satkosia Tiger Reserve posed several challenges. “The translocated tigers encountered difficulties in adapting to the new environment, and the landscape experienced considerable human-tiger conflict, including incidents of livestock depredation and negative local responses,” the report said.
