Tiger relocation travesty! After Zeenat, tigress Yamuna ‘escapes’ into Kuldiha forests

Tigress Yamuna has moved out of the Similipal forests of Mayurbhanj district and entered the adjacent Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary in Balasore, sources said on Tuesday.

This occurred close on the heels of Zeenat’s ‘escape’ to Jharkhand forests. The two tigresses, Zeenat and Yamuna, relocated from Maharashtra to Odisha's Similipal National Park, have ventured out of their new habitat.

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According to the sources, the State forest officials are keeping a close watch on Zeenat, with a dedicated team deployed in neighbouring Jharkhand for monitoring. However, the hope to sedate and guide her back to Similipal looks grim due to her refusal to eat for four days, raising concerns over her weakening state, which renders tranquillisation risky.

“Odisha Forest Department officials are keeping a close watch on the movement of Zeenat. The tigress will be tranquilised only after her health condition improves,” the State's Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia informed mediapersons.

Prem Kumar Jha, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), explained that Zeenat and Yamuna are in the process of establishing new territories, leading to their migration between forests. This territorial expansion is typical behaviour for tigers.

Authorities remain optimistic that the tigresses Zeenat will return to Similipal within a week.

“Most of the male tigers have their demarcated territories. However, the tigresses too have their territories which at times overlap. Yamuna and Zeenat had started exploration after they were released into the Similipal forests,” the Odisha PCCF said.

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“The two tigresses wandered into other forest covers either to establish their territories or in search of food. The movement of tigers is a natural process. We are keeping an eye on the movement of Yamuna and hope that Zeenat will make a comeback within five to six days,” PCCF Jha expressed while briefing mediapersons.

Meanwhile, Yamuna persists at Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary, Zeenat is still in Jharkhand but has moved slightly closer to Odisha.