Tourism activities in the Buxa Tiger Reserve are now suspended until October 9 due to the recent arrival of a tigress from Bihar. The forest department initially halted tourism from September 30 to October 3, but a new notice has extended this period.
Entry into the reserve, jeep safaris, and night stays inside the forest are completely banned for tourists during this time. The tigress is currently kept inside a seven-bigha enclosure in the 25 Mile area of Buxa. The department extended the entry ban to ensure the safety of tourists and to prevent any disturbance to the animal. Officials stated that safari noises could negatively affect the tigress and create safety risks.
The extended tourism closure has caused anger among residents of 18 villages located inside the Buxa Tiger Reserve. Local people expected tourism to resume after the June to September monsoon closure. Jeep safari operators also reported that the shutdown severely affects their livelihoods because they have bought new vehicles and must pay heavy monthly installments.
