After Zeenat, tigress Jamuna also abandoned the Similipal Tiger Reserve and left for a new location, leaving forest officials worried.

Both Zeenat and Jamuna, who had been brought from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to correct the genetic disorder among the Similipal tigers where most of the tigers are melanistic, have moved into contiguous forest areas.

The state government is hopeful that they will return to the sanctuary after marking their territories.

Zeenat left the sanctuary on December 14 and strayed into the Chakulia forest of neighbouring Jharkhand, about 40km from the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).

The two-and-a-half-year-old Jamuna followed suit and left for the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district, about 30km from the Similipal Sanctuary on December 15.

While Zeenat was released into the wilds of Similipal on November 25 at Chahala in Similipal, Jamuna was released into the core area at Jenabil of the STR on November 9.

Forest officials of Odisha and Jharkhand are on their toes to keep track of the movements of Zeenat. Regional chief conservator of forest and field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Prakash Chand Gogineni told The Telegraph: “Tigers have a tendency to stray into contiguous forest areas because for marking their territory... Zeenat is now close to the Odisha border. We expect the tigress to return soon.”

About tigress Jamuna, Gogineni said: “We will not disclose the location. But we will not use tranquiliser at this moment, neither on Zeenat nor Jamuna.”

The officials are worried about Zeenat and Jamuna’s safety, given the failure of the first inter-state tiger project in Satkoshia.