Baripada: Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) authorities have said that it was not adverse to put tigress Zeenat under sedation in order to bring her back to the core area of the National Park. She is out of their touch for last fortnight and giving them sleepless nights.
“Zeenat is moving in West Bengal. The Odisha and West Bengal Wildlife Organizations are tracking and moving with it. It is fit and fine, efforts are being made to bring it back by tranquilisation,” STR Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni informed.
Claiming that the tigress Zeenat, which walked into Jharkhand in the northen side of the Similipal, has later moved in West Bengal forests on Friday. He said forest department personnel of both the states are tracking Zeenat through signals from her radio collar and efforts are underway to guide her back into Similipal.
However, if the animal was not returning back to her habitation in the core area of the Similipal, the authorities may apply tranquilization as an alternative mode to bring her back, Shri Gogineni admitted.
The Field Director STR said the three-year-old tigress Zeenat and two-and-half year-old Jamuna were brought from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra with the goal of introducing a new gene pool to the tiger population .
Jamuna was brought from Maharashtra on October 27, while Zeenat arrived on November 15 and was released into the wild on November 24. While Jamuna was roaming the Similipal landscape with good health, Zeenat had walked into Jharkhand and later to West Bengal forest which were connected through forests.
Wildlife officials said that Zeenat was in good health as she s successfully hunted a buffalo in Rajabasa jungles near Chakulia. She t traveled to Jharkhand from Similipal on December 10. A week later on December 17 hunted a prey.
According to the All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE) 2023-24 report, Similipal is home to around 27 tigers and 12 cubs.