The tigress from Bandhavgarh, Sundari, which was giving sleepless nights to the forest department officials, is now back in the core area of Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

Officials said she was yet to mark her territory and had not stabilised in current environment.

An official said Sundari was spotted near Tuluka area. The old tigress, living in that area, has not shown any hostile attitude towards Sundari.

“The tigress is now back in the core area from the Athmallick jungle. Unlike in the past, she has not trespassed into the villages in the periphery but wandering in the forest near the villages. So far, she has not marked her area and not stabilised like the tiger from the Kanha forests. We are watching the tigress round the clock and monitoring her behaviour and movement. Eight forest teams are deployed to monitor her movement round the clock. The team included scientists from wild life institutes,” said additional chief conservator of forest of Angul circle Sudansan Panda.

After allegedly killing one woman at Hatibari last month, Sundari had slipped to the Hatidhara forest. There she killed one calf and cow. Villagers were up in arms demanding relocation of the tigress.

“Whenever she tried to cross the border to enter villages as she was doing in the Satkosia area, her movements have been checked by the forest party,” said divisional forest officer of Athmallick Samyak Samantray.

Efforts were made to drive the tigress into Satkosia Tiger Reserve as in Athmallick jungle there was no sufficient prey.

The animal became reportedly weak due to want of prey. However, much to the relief of the Satkosia authorities, she has now returned to the core area on her own and is staying near village Tuluka.

Panda said it would take some time more for the tigress to settle in STR. He said after the stabilisation of the two tigers in STR, efforts will be made to translocate another four tigers from Madhya Pradesh.