Tigress T138 Released into Buxa Tiger Reserve to Restore Population

On October 2, 2026, a three-year-old tigress known as T138 was moved from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar to the Buxa Tiger Reserve in northern West Bengal. This translocation is part of an effort to restore a tiger population in Buxa, a landscape that has struggled to support resident tigers for more than a decade. Data from a 2010 national estimation showed no tigers in camera traps, and while a 2014 scat analysis recorded two instances of tiger presence, no firm evidence of resident animals has emerged since. This long-term decline is attributed to poaching and habitat loss, alongside fragmentation caused by tea gardens, railways, and National Highway 31. For a reserve that has lacked a stable tiger presence since 2014, the arrival of T138 is a significant milestone in its conservation history.

The Valmiki Tiger Reserve, where T138 originated, has seen a steady recovery since joining Project Tiger in 1994. By 2022, the reserve was home to 54 tigers, following a period between 2006 and 2014 when management effectiveness ratings rose from 'satisfactory' to 'very good'. Reports from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India show that tiger occupancy in the area expanded from 510 square kilometers in 2006 to 750 square kilometers in 2010. Gaurav Ojha, the field director at VTR who led the capture, noted that T138 is a proficient hunter with minimal history of negative interactions with humans. To prepare for her release, Buxa’s management worked to bolster the local prey base and relocated two villages from the reserve’s core and buffer zones to improve protection.

While this move is a hopeful start, the release of T138 does not by itself guarantee a sustainable population. Experts point out that a single tigress cannot establish a breeding population, and plans are in place to introduce more tigers, including males, to encourage reproductive success and genetic diversity. A 2019 genetic study by the Wildlife Institute of India found that tigers from Valmiki belong to a distinct Terai cluster, while those in northeastern India represent a separate genetic group. This has raised questions about how sourcing tigers from Valmiki might influence the genetic heritage of the Buxa region. The long-term success of the project will depend on prey recovery, the management of livestock grazing, and maintaining safe corridors to nearby protected areas such as Raimona, Manas, and Phibsoo National Park in Bhutan.

The next phase for T138 and the Buxa Tiger Reserve will involve the close monitoring of the tigress as she adapts to her new environment. Although management has not released specific targets for survival or population growth, the initiative serves as a test of translocation as a tool for tiger recovery in India. The case of T138 may provide practical insights into the difficulties of wildlife management within fragmented landscapes. As conservationists follow her progress, her integration into the habitat could offer lessons for future efforts across the country. The project highlights the role of cooperation between wildlife officials and local communities in ensuring that tigers can survive and prosper in their natural habitats.