Bhubaneswar: Tigress Zeenat, who was translocated from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to Odisha in November 2024, has successfully established her territory at Similipal after having given birth to four cubs in the wild three months ago.
Now, the Forest department has decided to remove the radio collar that had been fitted on Zeenat to monitor her movement.
“We have planned to remove the radio collar by October or November this year,” said Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) field director Prakash Chand Gogineni.
According to the field director, the radio collar can be removed remotely and hence, tranquilisation won’t be needed. The collar can then be collected by the field staff.
The tracking of Jamuna, the other tigress which was transported from Tadoba, will continue to be under constant monitoring through radio collar fitted around the neck. Jamuna, who is in Kuldiha landscape, is yet to reproduce.
The wildlife wing is planning to roll out the second phase of tiger supplementation programme, with another pair of big cats from central India proposed to be introduced into Similipal landscape.
If necessary approvals come through, a male and a female tiger will be brought to the STR in the second phase.
Tadoba is likely to be the preferred source again following the success of first phase supplementation.