Alipurduar, West Bengal | August 18, 2026
West Bengal is preparing for a major wildlife conservation milestone, with Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) scheduled to receive a tiger on October 2, 2026, as part of an ambitious programme to rebuild a viable tiger population in the forests of North Bengal.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed the October 2 target on Tuesday. The first animal proposed for release is expected to be a tigress from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve, subject to the necessary clearances and final preparations.
A new chapter for Buxa
The proposed release is significant for Buxa, where establishing a resident breeding population of tigers has remained a major conservation challenge.
The programme was initially expected to move ahead earlier, but the monsoon and delays associated with relocation of villages from the reserve pushed the proposed release to October 2, which also coincides with the beginning of Wildlife Week.
If the first translocation succeeds, the tigress could subsequently be joined by additional tigers, potentially sourced from Manas or Kaziranga in Assam, depending on approvals and conservation requirements.
Preparations underway
Preparatory work has already begun inside the reserve. In July, the Forest Department transferred three trained elephants—Sarathi, Vir and Bharat—from Jaldapara to Buxa to assist with monitoring and management associated with the tiger rehabilitation programme.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority has identified Buxa as a priority landscape for tiger reintroduction, although conservation experts have stressed that adequate prey, habitat quality and management of human pressures will be crucial to the programme’s long-term success.
From occasional presence to a breeding population
The ultimate objective extends beyond introducing individual tigers. Conservation managers hope to establish a stable and breeding tiger population capable of surviving in the Buxa landscape over the long term.
If the planned October 2 release proceeds successfully, it could mark the beginning of one of the most closely watched tiger restoration initiatives in eastern India—and potentially a new chapter in Buxa Tiger Reserve’s conservation history.
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