2 days ago
In Zeenat and Yamuna, Similipal shows the way for tiger translocation in country
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Bhubaneswar: Inter-state tiger translocation, which had hit a speed-breaker following the bitter experience of 2018, has finally borne fruit with Similipal Tiger Reserve showing the way.
Lessons learnt from the failed translocation of Tigress Sundari and male tiger MB2, both introduced to Satkosia Tiger Reserve from Madhya Pradesh, helped pave the way for the success story, six years later. This could also open the way for tiger translocations across the country.
This time, Zeenat and Yamuna, brought from Maharashtra, adapted seamlessly to their new environment, with Zeenat being captured with a male mate, T-12, raising hopes of her pregnancy and the infusion of a fresh genetic pool in the reserve, which has 50% melanistic cats.
Yamuna has also settled in a place close to Kuldhia Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Similipal biosphere.
There were initial hiccups with Zeenat dispersing soon after its release, keeping forest personnel of three states on tenterhooks for 22 days.
"After Zeenat was captured on Dec 29 last year from West Bengal, she was released back into a soft enclosure on Jan 1. A large enclosure was then built, and it was kept under observation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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We didn't want to take any chances and waited for the right moment to release her again. On showing signs of estrus, male T-12 came close to Zeenat's enclosure. Taking the opportunity, she was finally released into the wild on April 17," chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha said.
He said it has been more than three months since her second release, and her movement, tracked through a radio collar, has been very satisfactory with no further sign of dispersion.
"She is moving within the deep core," Jha added.
With approval from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), both tigresses were chosen from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve. Zeenat, now 3.8 years old, was brought to Similipal on Nov 13, while 3.4-year-old Yamuna was brought on Oct 27 last year.
The wildlife wing planned a new and larger enclosure, spanning eight hectares (around 20 acres), in Similipal south division.
The small enclosure was earlier used by tigress Yamuna. "The large enclosure, constant monitoring, and natural prey hunt helped us make her (Zeenat) as wild as she was when brought," Jha further said.
Similipal recently confirmed the birth of three melanistic tiger cubs after they obtained camera trap evidence of them roaming with their mother, T-20, a melanistic female. The birth of cubs signalled Similipal's robustness in terms of habitat management and protection mechanisms.
Wildlife officials said the cubs are now four-to-five months old and have reached a certain height to come under camera trap. "We have altogether 32 adult tigers in Similipal," a wildlife officer said.
The birth of healthy cubs and their survival, and the expected delivery of Zeenat, could further the purpose of translocation and breeding success, thus positioning Similipal as a leader with the potential to rival the Sunderbans in the future.
