Zeenat makes her ‘first kill’, forest officials step up efforts to capture elusive tigress

After moving from Odisha and Jharkhand, the tigress has been in the Bandwan forest area in Purulia district of West Bengal for the last few days.

She has been avoiding baits put up by the forest department officials.

“We think that she must have been captured using bait earlier. That is why she is not coming near the baits we have offered. We have decided to install six more smart cameras around the area where she is presently located. These cameras have night vision and real time imagery which will help us track the tigress. Our teams are on the ground and coordinating with teams from Odisha,” added Roy.

Two other goats were also killed which were brought back by villagers. Another goat which had an injury mark escaped. The herd of goats, belonging to a local villager, were grazing near the forest, said officials.

“The present habitat is not suitable for a tiger. The prey base is low and there is no suitable forest cover. That is why the tigress is moving. It is avoiding any human contact. If a team reaches within 60 metres, she flees,” said Roy.

Zeenat, was introduced to Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha from Tadoba – Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra on November 14, as a part of a programme to strengthen the reserve’s gene pool.

On December 10, she escaped the Park and walked into Jharkhand. After staying in Jharkhand’s Chakulia area for over a week, Zeenat crossed another 15 km and entered Jhargram recently. The Tigress then crossed over to Bandwan in Purulia. The entire trek from Simlipal to Purulia, Zeenat covered around 200 km.