Alipurduar April 12: The National Tiger Conservation Authority has given the approval for translocation of six big cats from Assam to Buxa Tiger Reserve where no direct sighting of the animal was reported in the past few decades.

"The tiger augmentation programme is a 10 year project. In the first phase, two males and four females will be brought to Buxa from a forest in Assam. In the second phase, two tigers will be brought after three years," said state forest minister Binoy Barman.

The NTCA gave its approval for the detailed project report for the shift of the tigers to Buxa at its meeting in Delhi on April 10. The report had been prepared by the Bengal forest department in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India and Global Tiger Forum, said Barman.

He said some forest dwellers in Buxa would be relocated and the prey base for tigers would be augmented for improving the habitat of the big cats.

"We will build an enclosure on two hectares where tigers will be released first. After seven days, they will be allowed to roam freely in the wild. We will also release 50 sambar in Buxa so that there is a proper prey base for the tigers," said the minister.

Radio collar will be attached to every tiger to know its location," he added.