Parliament Question: Sighting of tigers at Buxa Tiger Reserve

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3099 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026 Sighting of tigers at Buxa Tiger Reserve 3099. SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the present status of Buxa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger, including findings of the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation wherein no resident breeding population was recorded and the details of habitat and prey base assessment; (b) whether recent camera-trap evidence and tiger sightings reported during 2026 indicate presence of at least one dispersing tiger in the landscape; (c) the details of funds sanctioned, released and utilised during the last five years under Project Tiger/NTCA support; (d) whether encroachment, human settlements, fragmentation and corridor issues with adjoining Bhutan forests have impacted conservation; and (e) the concrete roadmap for revival, anti-poaching strengthening and habitat restoration? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) As per the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), 2022, no tiger was photo captured during camera trapping exercise conducted for the AITE 2022. Buxa Tiger Reserve is connected with the Protected Areas (PAs) of North Bengal, Bhutan and Manas Tiger Reserve of Assam which results in regular movement of wild animals between these areas. As per AITE-2022, prey abundance is substantially low in the Tiger Reserve, adaptive management through habitat restoration and prey augmentation has been initiated. (b) As reported by the State, tigers were recorded in two camera traps in Buxa Tiger Reserve on 15.01.2026 and 16.01.2026. (c) The details of funds sanctioned, released and utilised during the last five years is as under:- (Rs. in lakhs) Year Amount Sanctioned Amount Released Amount Utilised 2020-21 178.19 160.29 160.29 2021-22 153.14 121.13 121.13 2022-23 201.97 98.98 98.98 2023-24 190.75 93.36 93.36 2024-25 186.60 91.30 91.30(d) & (e) As reported by the State, movement of the heavy commercial vehicles on the road connecting Bhutan with West Bengal which passes through the core area and important corridors results in managemental challenges for the tiger reserve. To mitigate these challenges, funding assistance is provided under the Project Tiger Component of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) to the tiger reserve for conservation of tigers, raising awareness on tiger & other wildlife conservation, habitat management, protection, eco-development, human resource and infrastructure development, voluntary village relocation as per sanctioned Annual Plan of Operation of the Tiger Reserve, which stems out from a statutory Tiger Conservation Plan. The State Government within the ambit of this Tiger Conservation Plan and relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 takes necessary action to mitigate challenges arise from the encroachment, habitation and fragmentation issues. Apart from this, a programme named "Augmentation and Long Term Monitoring of Tigers in Buxa Tiger Reserve" has been initiated for revival of Buxa Tiger Reserve. *****