This is an archive article published on December 10, 2024
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Gone girl: Tigress brought to Odisha to improve gene pool ventures off to Jharkhand
The three-year-old tigress was brought from Maharashtra and released in the core area of Similipal on November 24, after keeping it in a soft enclosure for 10 days.
Besides Zeenat, another young tigress, Jamuna from Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve, was also translocated to Similipal in October last week and released into the core area. (Representative image)
Tigress Zeenat, which was translocated from Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve in Maharashtra to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha as part of the project to improve gene pool of the big cats in STR, has ventured into Jharkhand jungle in search of new territory.
The three-year-old tigress was released to the core area of Similipal on November 24 after keeping it in a soft enclosure within the core area for 10 days.
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Senior forest officials said they are constantly monitoring the movement and behavioural pattern of the tigress through the radio collar attached around its neck.
“We are constantly monitoring its movement through satellites and with the help of our field staff,” said Prakash Chand Gogineni, field director of Similipal.
When contacted, Odisha’s principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) P K Jha said they are in touch with the officials of the Jharkhand government and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to drive the tigress back to Similipal.
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“After releasing into the core area, the tigress was roaming near the boundary areas of STR for the past two days and it ventured into the Jharkhand border on Sunday. We are tracking its movement and will act as per the advice of the NTCA,” Jha told The Indian Express.
Though there is no definite provision to drive the tigress back to Similipal unless it enters into the non-forest areas or human habitations, Jha said they are trying to drive it back to Similipal forests for its safety. “We will try to relocate it to a new area within Similipal,” said Jha.
Besides Zeenat, another young tigress, Jamuna from Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve, was also translocated to Similipal in October last week and released into the core area. According to forest officials, Jamuna is in good health and trying to settle in Similipal areas.
The translocation project is part of Odisha government’s efforts to improve the tigers’ gene pool, improve the sex ratio and check in-breeding among tigers inside the STR, the country’s only wild habitat for melanistic royal Bengal tigers sprawling across 2,750 square km in Mayurbhanj district.
The big cats in STR live isolated from other tigers, because of which they breed among themselves. The state government apprehends that the tiger population in STR may crash because of isolation. Hence, effort is being made to improve the gene pool.
The All Odisha Tiger Estimation 2023-24 found that Similipal has around 27 tigers, including 13 melanistic tigers.
Besides Zeenat, another young tigress, Jamuna from Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve, was also translocated to Similipal in October last week and released into the core area. (Representative image) 
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