Tigress Zeenat to be shifted to larger enclosure in Odisha soon

Zeenat, the straying female tigress, is set to be shifted to her newly built enclosure as part of a strategic initiative aimed at eventually reintroducing her into the wild. This move will occur after a period of acclimatisation, a senior forest official informed on Monday.

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The wildlife official confirmed that Zeenat’s release is basically dependent on her successful self-hunting abilities and maintaining robust health. This plan was outlined by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) for Wildlife, Prem Kumar Jha.

At present, Zeenat is housed in a smaller and soft enclosure that is only a hectare in size. Preparations are underway to move her to a significantly larger enclosure, measuring approximately eight to nine hectares. The PCCF has asserted that the transfer will take place promptly upon the completion of the new space.

PCCF (Wildlife) says about release of Zeenat into wild

“We have constructed a new enclosure to accommodate Zeenat. However, the tigress will be released into the wild habitat when a suitable time comes. NTCA team has inspected and is satisfied with the big cat’s physical health and activities,” PCCF (Wildlife) Jha said.

The monitoring exercise was conducted collaboratively by the NTCA, Wildlife Institute of India, and the state Forest Department, on January 16. Daily observation reports are currently being submitted to the NTCA for evaluation.

Worth mentioning, following high drama, tigress Zeenat had eventually returned to Odisha. The wild animal was previously released in the forests of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district, days after it was tranquillised and captured in West Bengal.

The female big cat was subsequently released on January 1 into a soft enclosure at the south division of the tiger reserve after it reached Odisha from the Alipore animal facility.

Zeenat, initially brought from Maharashtra zoo to Mayurbhanj’s Similipal as part of a tiger conservation initiative, previously embarked on an unexpected journey, raising questions about her return.

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NTCA, on December 31, 2024, had issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Wildlife Warden of West Bengal over the shifting of tigress Zeenat, who strayed from Odisha’s Simlipal forest to West Bengal and was later tranquilised at Bankura, to Alipore Zoo.