Tigresses are in good health, say officials

Baripada: Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) officials in Mayurbhanj district on Saturday said both the tigresses brought from Maharashtra are in good health, despite one of them having ventured into the forests of neighbouring West Bengal.

The STR Field Director, Prakash Chand Gogineni, said, “Tigress Jamuna is fit and healthy within the Similipal landscape, while three-year-old Zeenat moved to West Bengal on Friday morning.” “Forest departments of both the States are tracking Zeenat through signals from her radio collar, and efforts are underway to guide her back into Similipal,” he added. Jamuna and Zeenat were brought to STR from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra with the goal of introducing a new gene pool to the tiger popu-lation, officials said.

According to the All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE) 2023-24 report, Simil-ipal is home to around 27 tigers and 12 cubs.

Jamuna was brought from Maharashtra on October 27, while Zeenat arrived on November 15 and was released into the wild on November 24.

Gogineni said, “The tigress is being constantly monitored, and she has suc-cessfully hunted.” The STR officials said Zeenat travelled to Jharkhand from Similipal on December 10. A week later on December 17, she was spotted hunting a buffalo in Rajabasa jungles near Chakulia.