Bison sanctuary in Tripura can be made tourist spot: Official

Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura, the country's only natural breeding centre of bisons, could be developed as a major tourist spot, a forest official said today.
The sanctuary located in Belonia subdivision of South Tripura district, around 100 km from here, boasts of many resident and migratory birds, Divisional Forest Officer (South) Harsha Kumar said.
"Two watch towers to see the animals and a butterfly park were developed recently and the vast lake in the sanctuary was renovated with boating facilities. The area could easily be developed as tourist hotspot if the department ropes in the Tourism department," he said.

According to the last census conducted in 2013, around 130 bisons were found in the two blocks of the sanctuary.
The official was upbeat that the animal's population was on the rise as newborn calves of bisons have been spotted grazing in the sanctuary.
However, their current population could not be ascertained till a fresh census was conducted, Kumar said.

"This is a well managed sanctuary. A grass land was also developed in the core area, so that the animals need not come out of the area in search of food," the official said.
Besides creating proper habitat for the animal, he said awareness about bisons have also increased among nearby villagers following campaigns.

As the sanctuary is located near the Indo-Bangla border, poaching by hunters from Bangladesh had been rampant, but with the erection of barbed wire fencing on the border last year, poaching has come to zero, Kumar added.