Tigress Zeenat Spotted In West Bengal After Moving Into Jharkhand From Odisha’s Similipal

Bhubaneswar:  Royal Bengal Tigress Zeenat, which had ventured into Jharkhand from Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) a few days ago, has reportedly strayed into West Bengal.

After spending around 11 days in Jharkhand’s Chakulia Forest Range, the three-year-old tigress on Friday reportedly ventured into Jhargram Forests in West Bengal. A high alert was issued in that area by local administration after they came to know about Zeenat’s presence in the nearby areas, sources said.

Worth mentioning that Zeenat was translocated from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra to Similipal in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on November 14.

According to reports, Zeenat had walked to Jharkhand from STR on December 10. On December 17, the big cat was spotted hunting a buffalo in the Rajabasa jungles near Chakulia in Jharkhand. But after its entry into West Bengal’s Jhargram forests, a quick response team of the neighbouring state was reportedly monitoring its movements.

Earlier, STR field director PC Gogineni had informed the media that Zeenat is being constantly tracked by Odisha Forest Department officials through signals from its radio collar. Efforts are on to get the big cat back into Similipal, he had stated.

It may be recalled that to infuse fresh gene pool to the tiger population in Similipal, not only Zeenat, but another tigress Jamuna too was translocated to Odisha from Maharashtra. But interestingly both these big cats have moved away from Similipal woods.

While Zeenat has entered West Bengal after straying into Jharkhand, the other female big cat Jamuna too ventured into Odisha’s Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district.

After the two tigresses moved into neighbouring forests from Similipal, some wildlife experts wanted Odisha Forest Department to find out the reasons why the two abandoned and take necessary actions so that the big cats stay put in Similipal forests.