Guwahati, November 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A tigress that travelled more than 100 km from West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve into Assam’s Kokrajhar district was safely captured following a coordinated operation by the forest departments of the two states, Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said.
The tigress, identified as BT1, had been released into the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2. It subsequently crossed into Assam and reached Raimona National Park in the Bodoland Territorial Region before moving through forested areas towards human settlements in Kokrajhar district.
According to Mallabaruah, the animal had been on the move since October 23, raising concerns about the safety of both local residents and the tigress as it approached inhabited areas.
Forest officials from Assam and West Bengal launched a joint operation to track the animal, monitor its movements and assess the potential risks. The exercise received support from the district administration, police personnel and local communities.
Announcing the successful capture in a post on X, the minister congratulated all teams involved, describing the operation as an example of effective inter-state coordination and a shared commitment to wildlife conservation.
Mallabaruah said the movement of wild animals does not follow administrative boundaries, making cooperation between neighbouring states essential, particularly in regions where wildlife corridors extend beyond protected forests and towards human settlements.
He stressed that timely intervention and coordinated monitoring were crucial to preventing potential conflict between people and wildlife.
“BT1 is safe, and that is what matters most,” the minister said.
The incident underlines the importance of cooperation between forest authorities across the Northeast, where the movement of large mammals frequently extends across state borders and protected areas.
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