AGARTALA, Aug 31 � The Forest Department in Tripura has decided to establish a bison reserve in the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in South district to preserve and protect the endangered species.
A reserve area of 12.93 square kilometres has been earmarked in the sanctuary and the authorities are waiting for the legal procedures to complete, Trishna Wildlife Warden Pritam Bhattacharjee said.
�The endangered animal, locally known as Gaba or Gau, needs to be protected,�� Bhattacharya said.
The reserve falls in the Jagannath Dighi Reserve Forest area which includes four moujas � Siddhinagar, Uttar Srirampur, Bhairabnagar and Kamalpur � where the Forest depertment has started initial work.
�We are cultivating grass in major habitats of Bison in the Trishna core area as well as the proposed site for the reserve. We have started plantation of one species of bamboo, Oxtenanthera Nigrocilliate locally known as Kaillai, which is a favourite food for Bison,�� the Wildlife warden said.
The Forest department has undertaken a number of initiatives in the core area which include setting up of a grazing land, installation of six watch towers and five lightning conductors.
Officials said the Bison population has registered a rise in the last couple of years after the Indo-Bangla border, adjoining the sanctuary, is ringed with barbed wire fencing.
As many as nine new calves were noticed by the Forest officials last month inside the core area, they said.
Tripura Forest Minister Jitendra Chowdhury said for a few years poachers from Bangladesh used to regularly enter the sanctuary.
�The situation has changed and the population of the animal is increasing specially after erection of barbed wire fencing along the border and beefing up of the strength of the Forest Protection Force,�� Chowdhury said.
The Minister said the Sipaheejala Wildlife Sanctuary was earlier declared as a national park for preservation of the clouded leopard which yielded results as the leopards got good breeding grounds.
A rare breed of bison was found dead in the Trishna National Park in January, last year. The death could not be explained by the authorities.
A year before in 2009, as many as nine bisons died after a viral attack. It is alleged that lack of facility for proper treatment is not available in the Trishna Park.
A wiser government has now allocated Rs 50 lakh in the current fiscal year to create a bison-friendly environment in the park.
Villagers allege that random depletion of forest resources and rampant corruption are reasons behind the untimely death of the animal. � PTI