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Bengal

NTCA gives technical approval for tiger relocation in Buxa

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has given technical approval to the West Bengal Forest Department for the relocation of tiger at Buxa Tiger Reserve in north Bengal where sighting of big cat was not reported for long.

"We have received technical approval from the NTCA and in-principle approval from the state government for the relocation of tiger at Buxa," state Chief Wildlife Warden Pradeep Vyas said here.

"We have taken a tiger augmentation plan in Buxa-Jaldapara. Detailed project report is being prepared in consultation with Wildlife Institute of India and Global Tiger Forum. The report will be ready by February next," he said.

On whether relocation of tiger is feasible at Buxa where there was human disturbance, he said, "Habitat improvement work is being done and steps were being initiated to improve the prey base and grassland to make the situation conducive for tiger relocation."

Many tiger experts had earier raised questions about relocation of tiger at Buxa saying that it would not yield any fruitful result unless and until villages were shifted from the core areas of the tiger reserve.

To a question, Vyas said tiger was likely to be relocated at Buxa from Kaziranga in Assam.

The last census based on big cat sample analysis indicated that there were three tigers in BTR, which borders Bhutan and Manas tiger reserve in Assam.

A senior official of the Forest Department said they have the plan to reintroduce tigers both males and breeding females from forests in the northeast which share habitat identical to Buxa.

Much to the delight of wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, a tiger was photographed in Neora Valley National Park in North Bengal on Thursday last.
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