The 2.5-year-old Bengal Tigress, which was translocated from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj on Sunday, seems to have settled down in the sanctuary and killed its first prey. The hunting of the prey by the tigress has brought cheers among the forest officials.

Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF), Similipal, Prakash Chandra Gogineni told The Telegraph, “The tigress Jamuna, hunted a wild boar in its enclosure spread around one hectre of land inside the core area of the Similipal sanctuary. Her condition is stable, and she is doing well. We have released two boars and two cheetahs inside the enclosure.”

The RCCF said: “The tigress will be released into the dense forest after it acclimatises to the local climate. Once this experiment is successful, we will bring another tigress. The new tigress will be brought soon.”

Citing the reason for bringing the tigress to the Similipal bio-sphere, Gogineni said: “It’s being done to enhance the genetic diversity of the Similipal tigers. All are being done as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)’s nod.”

Similipal spreads over 2,750 sqkm, is home to the largest number of tigers in the state. The tiger reserve has 27 tigers, including 13 females and 14 males. Of these, 13 are melanistic. Melanistic tigers have thick black strips placed closed together, covering up most of the brown background. The reserve has also reported some cubs.

Gogineni said: “We are not worried about the increase in the number of melanistic tigers. It shows that of uniformity. But the tigress, with its lush golden-brown coat and black stripes, holds out the promise of widening the gene pool. It will help the cause of increasing the number of big cat population in Similipal. Even those who are doing the research have given their opinion of bringing the tigress from outside and being introduced in Similipal.”

Sources said that once the experiment is successful, big cats will be brought from other states, particularly Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra, and will be introduced in Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Angul district. In 2018, an experiment on the translocation of tigers was conducted by bringing two tigers — one male and another female — to Satkosia from Madhya Pradesh, But the experiment failed; the poacher killed the male tiger, and the female one returned to Madhya Pradesh.

Panic gripped the people of Digapandhi block in Ganjam after the carcass of a cow was found. The paw marks near the carcass were reportedly of a Bengal Tiger.