Odisha Similipal’s Tigress Zeenat Enters ‘Safe’ Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve From Purulia

Bhubaneswar: Tigress Zeenat, who travelled nearly 200 km over two weeks from Odisha’s Similipal, avoiding trap cages and tranquilising teams, entered Mayurjharna elephant reserve in West Bengal on Monday.

Her present location is considered safe since it is a reserve, which also has an elephant corridor having contiguity with Odisha forest.

“Two teams from Bengal and one from Odisha wildlife wing are ready to tranquillise the animal once it is clearly visible in the forest,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Odisha), wildlife wing, Prem Kumar Jha told TOI.

He further stated that tigress’ location has been traced, but it is not visible. “Our ultimate goal is to tranquillise it and bring it back to Similipal. If it returns on its own, it is better,” he added.

Zeenat was translocated from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha on November 14 to strengthen the gene pool in the reserve. The 3-year-old tigress explored the northern part of Similipal between November 24 and December 8 when she walked past its boundary to explore her own territory. She initially strayed into Jharkhand and moved further away from Chakulia range into West Bengal territory on the night of December 19, creating hurdles in the Forest department’s plans for possible tranquillisation.

Zeenta entered Bandwan area of Purulia district from Jhargram on Sunday morning, according to West Bengal’s Chief Wildlife Warden Debal Roy.

West Bengal forest officials had earlier issued an alert in villages, hotels and resorts in Jhargram district. Villagers and tourists remained vigilant even as experts from Sunderban Tiger Reserve were ready with nets and teams with tranquilisers waited on ‘machans’ to locate the tigress.

According to sources, the tigress is being tracked through the radio collar fitted to her, allowing officials to monitor her movements and ensure her well-being. The satellite data reveals that she is in good health and has been successfully hunting in her new environment. She has so far been avoiding humans and no sightings or cattle killings have also been reported.