The three-year-old Bengal tigress brought to the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) from Maharashtra on November 15 was on Monday released into the dense forest of Similipal from its enclosure after 10 days of confinement.
The tigress’s previous habitat was the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra.
Nicknamed Zeenat, it is the second female tigress from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to be released into the wilds of the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district. At the time of being released from her enclosure, she looked healthy. Forest officials are eagerly waiting for the animal to hunt its first prey.
On October 27, the Odisha government released Jamuna, a 2.5-year-old tigress, into the Similipal Tiger Reserve. It was also brought from Tarain Maharashtra.
Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Susanta Nanda tweeted, “Tigress Zeenat was released from its soft enclosure today. The new addition to the Simlipal family, brought as an interstate translocation program from TATR of Maharashtra, would infuse much needed genetic diversity of Simlipal Tiger Reserve.”
The wilds of Similipal have 27 tigers, including 13 females and 14 males. Of these, 13 are melanistic, which have thick black strips placed close together, covering up most of the brown background. The presence of two tigresses has given forest officials hope that the tiger’s mating with one of them in the coming days would add to the gene pool.
“The Similipal Tiger Reservoir is witnessing inbreeding leading to genetic disorder. This is like an incestuous relationship within a family which causes disorders. Normal and natural mating of tigers outside the reserve is required to overcome the aberration,” said an official.
Animal exchange
The Nandankanan zoo, located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar city, has received different animals under an exchange programme from Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, as approved by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. In exchange, Nandan Kanan will also give a number of animals to the Nehru zoo, Hyderabad.
A 17-member team from Hyderabad zoo arrived at Nandankanan on Monday to hand over animals for the first phase of the drive.
