Bhubaneswar: With an aim to further enhance tiger population in the State, the Forest Department has decided to bring three more Royal Bengal Tigers, which will be released in Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary in Sambalpur district.
The State Government has already brought two tigress—named as Jamuna and Zeenat—from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to Similipal to introduce a new gene pool to the tiger population. Now, the Forest department is monitoring their health conditions and activities in STR, said Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia here today.
Speaking to reporters, the Minister said the three RBTs including two tigresses will be brought to the State as soon as Jamuna and Zeenat adopt and acclimatize to the new environment.
The new tigers will be brought after a thorough evaluation of Debrigarh sanctuary’s current inhabitants, ensuring a well-managed and sustainable environment for the majestic cats, he said.
He said that the government would also take opinion from the wild animal experts before releasing tigress Zeenat to the wild of STR.
As the State has developed a good ecosystem and environment for the free movement of tigers, the tiger relocation programme has been planned, officials said.
In its all Odisha Tiger Estimation conducted for the first time during 2023-24 in 47 forest divisions from October 15, 2023 to February 10, 2024, the State found 30 tigers and eight cubs
Out of 30 Royal Bengal Tigers, 27 were found in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). In total, 13 adult tigers – seven females and six males – were found to be pseudo-melanistic in Similipal. If the two new tigress will be counted, the number will increase to 29.
Besides the STR, Keonjhar territorial and Keonjhar wildlife, Paralakhemundi territorial, and Hirakud wildlife have one tiger each.
The presence of three unique adult male tigers camera-trapped in the Hirakud Wildlife Davison, Paralakhemundi Territorial Division, Keonjhar Territorial and Keonjhar Wildlife Division looks promising and provides hope for a better future for tigers in these habitats.