Odisha keeps watch as Zeenat stays in Jharkhand forest | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Tigress Zeenat, which has dispersed to Jharkhand, has been roaming within the Chakulia forest range in the neighbouring state, forest department officials confirmed on Thursday.
The officials affirmed that the tigress is within the secure zone and tranquillisation of the big cat is not presently being contemplated at present. “A decision regarding the tranquillisation of the tigress might be considered based on its movement and possible human-animal conflict,” Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni said.
On Wednesday, the Odisha wildlife wing had sought Jharkhand forest department’s authorisation to tranquillise the dispersed tigress if circumstances so necessitated.
Officials said a 15-member contingent from the state is presently tracking Zeenat’s movement in Jharkhand. While equipped with tranquillising equipment, the ultimate decision will be taken if potential human-animal conflict arises.
Jharkhand’s chief wildlife warden Satyajit Singh said the tigress has eaten a buffalo calf offered as bait. “Forest teams didn’t get a favourable condition today to dart the big cat. They have surrounded the area and are keeping watch. Police have imposed prohibitory orders to prevent assembly of five or more people in the area,” Singh added.
Zeenat was introduced to Similipal Tiger Reserve‘s soft enclosure on Nov 24. The big cat was discovered in Jharkhand territory on Monday following an overnight journey on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the Odisha wildlife wing also notified its West Bengal counterpart after the tigress was found in the Jharkhand forest area. As West Bengal and Jharkhand share borders with Odisha, the wildlife authorities anticipate the tigress might disperse further towards Bengal.
The three-year-old tigress was transported from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to Similipal Tiger Reserve to introduce a fresh gene pool.
The translocation project is integral to a scheme for tiger population restoration in the country. Earlier this year, the state requested authorisation to translocate the tigresses from Tadoba, which was subsequently granted.
It can be mentioned that a comparable translocation project was initiated by the state govt in 2018 in Satkosia Tiger Reserve by introducing tigers from Madhya Pradesh, but the had endeavour proved unsuccessful then.
The officials affirmed that the tigress is within the secure zone and tranquillisation of the big cat is not presently being contemplated at present. “A decision regarding the tranquillisation of the tigress might be considered based on its movement and possible human-animal conflict,” Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni said.
On Wednesday, the Odisha wildlife wing had sought Jharkhand forest department’s authorisation to tranquillise the dispersed tigress if circumstances so necessitated.
Officials said a 15-member contingent from the state is presently tracking Zeenat’s movement in Jharkhand. While equipped with tranquillising equipment, the ultimate decision will be taken if potential human-animal conflict arises.
Jharkhand’s chief wildlife warden Satyajit Singh said the tigress has eaten a buffalo calf offered as bait. “Forest teams didn’t get a favourable condition today to dart the big cat. They have surrounded the area and are keeping watch. Police have imposed prohibitory orders to prevent assembly of five or more people in the area,” Singh added.
Zeenat was introduced to Similipal Tiger Reserve‘s soft enclosure on Nov 24. The big cat was discovered in Jharkhand territory on Monday following an overnight journey on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the Odisha wildlife wing also notified its West Bengal counterpart after the tigress was found in the Jharkhand forest area. As West Bengal and Jharkhand share borders with Odisha, the wildlife authorities anticipate the tigress might disperse further towards Bengal.
The three-year-old tigress was transported from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to Similipal Tiger Reserve to introduce a fresh gene pool.
The translocation project is integral to a scheme for tiger population restoration in the country. Earlier this year, the state requested authorisation to translocate the tigresses from Tadoba, which was subsequently granted.
It can be mentioned that a comparable translocation project was initiated by the state govt in 2018 in Satkosia Tiger Reserve by introducing tigers from Madhya Pradesh, but the had endeavour proved unsuccessful then.
