Tripura plans special home for dwindling bison population

Agartala, Aug 28 (UNI) To arrest exodus and extinction of bison population, the Tripura government has sought an approval from the National Zoo Authority (NZA) to convert a part of Trishna wildlife sanctuary into home of the large hairy wild animals.

Talking to UNI, wildlife warden B K Singdeo said about 32 sq km area of Trishna wildlife sanctuary has been earmarked for conversion of home of bisons. The sanctuary in south Tripura has about 82 sqkm area.

The new home for bisons would help the animals to grow further as shrinking pastureland, vagaries of nature and exdous of bisons into neighbouring Bangladesh made the number dwindling rapidly. Three bisons that had strayed into Bangladesh territory in search of green grass never returned. There were about 300 bisons in 2002 and now they stood at 100, said Singdeo.

The government has sought necessary funds for building for the bison population and two watchtowers for tourists.

In 2005, NZA had declared a part of the Sipahijala wildlife sanctuary a national park for preservation and protection of clouded leopard.

UNI