Bhubaneswar: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Susanta Nanda has unleashed an innovative program for wildlife lovers.
With an aim to further enhance tiger population in the State, the State Wildlife Organization headed by Shri Nanda has decided to bring five Royal Bengal Tigers to two wildlife sanctuaries of the State.
According to senior officials of the Wildlife Wing of the Department of Forest,Environment and Climate Change, the five Royal Bengal Tigers will be released in Debrigarh and Similipal Wildlife sanctuaries.
Three Royal Bengal Tigers will be released in Debrigarh sanctuary while two others will be released in Similipal. All the five Royal Bengal Tigers will be brought from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the officials said.
One Royal Bengal tiger and two tigresses will be released in the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary while two RBTs will be released in Similipal Tiger Reserve to further increase the tiger population.
The officials informed that the entire process for relocation of big cats in Debrigarh will be completed by August while the same process for Similipal will be completed by October this year.
As the State has developed a good ecosystem and environment for the free movement of tigers, the tiger relocation programme has been planned, they 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.
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.