Rescued Royal Bengal Tigress released after 6 months of treatment

The tigress that was found injured after being caught in a poachers snare was released into the Sundarbans on Sunday after six months of treatment. Photo Bishnu Proshad Chakrabottty-UNB

Khulna, July 12 –A Royal Bengal tigress, who spent nearly six months in a rehabilitation centre after being rescued from a poacher’s snare, returned to its natural habitat in the Sundarbans on Sunday.

The tigress had been rescued from a poachers' snare in the Sundarbans earlier this year. She was released in the Andharmanik patrol outpost area under the Sundarbans East Forest Division on Sunday morning, said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Forest Division Rezaul Karim Chowdhury .

Forest officials transported the animal from Mongla Fuel Jetty by the Forest Department vessel ML Swachh-2 and reached the release site around 11:30 am.

After completing necessary procedures, officials opened the iron cage at around noon. However, the tigress initially refused to leave.

About an hour later, the vessel was moved closer to the forest edge and one side of the cage was raised, prompting the animal to leap into the forest before disappearing into the dense mangroves.

Several vessels carrying Forest Department personnel and senior officials surrounded the release point to ensure the tigress moved directly into the forest instead of toward nearby human settlements.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Conservator of Forests for Khulna Region Imran Ahmed and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Forest Division Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Prof Dr Md Anwarul Islam, wildlife and biodiversity researcher, among others, were present during the release.

The tigress was sedated on Saturday night at the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division's rehabilitation centre in Khulna before being transported to Mongla under tight security early Sunday.

The animal was rescued after being found trapped in a deer snare near the Baidyamari Forest Patrol Outpost under the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans East Forest Division.

Forest officials received information about the trapped tiger on January 3 and launched a rescue operation the following day using a tranquiliser gun before bringing it to the rehabilitation centre.

Veterinary surgeon Hatem Sajjat Mohammad Julkarnaine of Gazipur Safari Park said the tigress had suffered a serious leg injury and other health complications when rescued.

"Initially, it refused to eat and underwent several medical examinations, including blood tests. Its diet was gradually adjusted from liver and small pieces of meat to small animals, and later goats and wild boars. After nearly six months of treatment and care, the tigress made a full recovery," he said.

DFO Rezaul Karim Chowdhury described the rescue and rehabilitation as a major challenge, saying thousands of people had gathered near the rescue site, complicating the operation.

"This is the first time a tiger rescued from outside the forest has been rehabilitated and released back into the Sundarbans. It is a significant achievement for the Forest Department," he said.

Chief Conservator Amir Hossain Chowdhury called the release a milestone in wildlife conservation and said the department would continue strengthening efforts to protect wildlife and biodiversity.

To monitor the tigress after its release, the Forest Department has installed 20 camera traps covering about 90 square kilometres of forest to track its movements and survival in the wild.

State Minister said the successful rehabilitation and release of the tigress was a historic moment.

"Despite various limitations, we managed to restore the animal's health and return it to its natural home. Wild animals belong in the wild, and today a new chapter has been written in the Sundarbans," he said.

Forest officials noted that while a tiger had previously been taken from the Sundarbans to Dhaka, it was never returned to the forest. - UNB