Uncaged: tiger boosters More cameras & guards at Neora, deer as prey at Buxa

Deer brought to be released into the Buxa reserve

TT, Jalpaiguri/ Alipurduar: More cameras will be installed at the Neora Valley National Park to intensify vigilance and better gauge the tiger population at the reserve in Kalimpong district, senior officials of the state forest department said on Saturday.

The decision comes a day after five photos of the Royal Bengal Tiger, clicked by five different cameras at the park on Thursday and Friday and on December 27, were examined and released by the department.

"We have 10 pairs of trap cameras in Neora now and intend to set up more because the presence of the Royal Bengal Tiger has been reaffirmed in the reserve," said Ravikant Sinha, the chief wildlife warden of the state.

During the past two days, the photos of tigers were shot from three cameras located near Rachela, one of the highest points of the park located at the tri-junction of Bhutan, Sikkim and Bengal.

Another forest official said the presence of tigers had made them consider increasing the number of forest guards at Neora.

"Most areas of the park are still virgin and located in difficult hilly terrains. To ensure the safety of the tigers, we are planning to increase the number of forest guards. The idea is to ensure comprehensive vigilance through our guards and cameras," said the forester.

He said a dip in temperature may have prompted the tigers to descended from the higher reaches of the park and get clicked by the cameras. "We plan to check out some other cameras to see whether any other photos have been stored in them," a department source said.

Buxa plan

Twenty-one spotted deer have been brought to the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) to be released into the wild for tigers. The deer are part of a plan to a preparatory move to increase the numbers of Royal Bengal Tigers brought to the reserve earlier.

"We got the deer herd from Malda a couple of days back and kept them in an enclosure. They will be released into the wild after a month. We have plans to release around 150 such deer to ensure the carnivores have adequate prey in the reserve," said Sinha, the chief wildlife warden.

Sambar and gaur (Indian Bison) will be brought in from the Jaldapara National Park and released into the reserve later, Sinha added.

Ten tigers will be brought and released into Buxa over five years. The department plans to speak to Assam forest officials for the tigers. "If they refuse, we will speak to officials in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. We want to start releasing the tigers by the end of this year," said a source.