Bhubaneswar: Tigress Yamuna, who was the first to be translocated from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Similipal, looks settled and has remained within the limits of her new habitat since she was released into the wild, wildlife officials said.
Similipal biosphere reserve comprises two divisions — Kuldhia and Hadagarh wildlife sanctuaries. “Yamuna has slightly crossed the geographical boundary of Similipal Tiger Reserve and is in Kuldhia sanctuary. It is exploring a stable territory within Similipal,” said Odisha’s chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha.
Wildlife officials said soon after Yamuna was released in Similipal’s south division, it started exploring the habitat, even as the wildlife wing monitors its movement through radio collar signals.
For the first two weeks, it was found to be travelling between 7 km and 10 km daily. For two days, its movement was very limited, which the wildlife wing said may be due to prey hunting, feeding and rest. So far, it has already covered around 100 sq km in Similipal.
Wildlife officials said for tigress Zeenat, who returned to Similipal recently after a 24-day sojourn across three states, all due care has been taken to avoid direct contact with any forest personnel in charge of monitoring. She is being monitored through CCTV footage. “Zeenat is under observation. There seems to be no adverse impact of darting,” an officer said.
Officials said the tigresses are expected to be compatible with their potential Similipal mates. Similipal has robust prey density, which can sustain the tiger population. National Centre for Biological Sciences and Similipal officials are working on compatibility factors of tigers from the central India landscape.
The wildlife wing is yet to take a call on when to release Zeenat into the wild again.