Tigress airlifted from Bihar to Buxa Tiger Reserve in inter-state conservation push

A three-year-old tigress was airlifted from Gorakhpur to West Bengal on Thursday aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft, following a 15-hour road journey from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve, as part of an inter-state conservation programme. The tigress was captured and examined by forest officials before being fitted with a radio collar to monitor her movements. She was transported under tight security to Gorakhpur airport, the nearest suitable departure point, with a final health check conducted before takeoff. The tigress will be housed in a soft-release enclosure at Buxa Tiger Reserve to gradually adapt before release. The translocation aims to strengthen Buxa's tiger population through scientific management and inter-state cooperation.