Second tigress from Maharashtra released into soft enclosure in Similipal Tiger Reserve

After Tigress Jamuna, another tigress has been brought from Maharashtra to Odisha as part of the State government’s tiger relocation project. The tigress named 'Jinat' was released into a soft enclosure of Similipal in Mayurbhanj district today.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Odisha, Susanta Nanda, had earlier informed that the three-year-old tigress was brought from Tadoba- Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and it would be released into the soft enclosure near Chahala in north Similipal on Friday.

The tigress was brought to Odisha in a special vehicle on Thursday evening. A special team from the wildlife wing of Odisha Forest Department comprising 10 members had visited Maharashtra to translocate the tigress from Tadoba- Andheri Tiger Reserve to Similipal Tiger Reserve.

Earlier, Tigress Jumuna, which was brought from Tadoba- Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and was kept in a soft enclosure, was released to the core areas of the Similipal Tiger Reserve. 

It is worth mentioning that the inter-state translocation project aims at infusing a fresh gene pool in Similipal. The translocation of the tigress is being done with the permission of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Tiger Population In Odisha

As per the first All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE) report 2023-24 conducted by the Odisha Forest Department, there are a total of 30 tigers and eight cubs (under less than one year) in Odisha at present.

During the AOTE exercise, while a total of 27 unique adult tigers including 14 males and 13 females were camera-trapped in Odisha, the rest three adult tigers were seen in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).

AOTE report suggests that Similipal Tiger Reserve has the highest number of 24 big cats including 11 usual morph tigers (seven females and four males), 13 pseudo melanistic tigers (seven females and six males), and eight tiger cubs.

Moreover, Keonjhar Territorial and Keonjhar Wildlife, Paralakhemundi Territorial and Hirakud Wildlife have one tiger each.

Tiger population in Odisha has increased as the earlier AITE (All India Tiger Estimation), 2022 had reported a minimum of 17 tigers in the State.