Odisha has initiated interstate coordination with Jharkhand to bring back a female tiger which was released into Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) to boost the genetic diversity of reserve’s big cat population.
Defying State boundaries and conservation plans, the tigress had wandered into neighbouring Jharkhand, leaving Odisha’s forest officials on their toes. Besides having frequent communication with their Jharkhand counterparts, Odisha may soon have to extend its efforts to collaborate with the West Bengal government as well, with the possibility of the tigress crossing into latter’s forest.
Also Read: Odisha writes to NTCA for introduction of tigers in Similipal Tiger Reserve from other landscapes
Zeenat, the three-year-old tigress, was translocated from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to STR on November 14 and was released in wild following 10 days of acclimatisation into the core area of Similipal North on November 24. The dispersing female tiger was in process of establishing her territory.
“Zeenat is traced 35 km from Similipal and 20 km from the State border. It was tracked in the Chakulia range under the Jamshedpur forest division in Jharkhand. Efforts are underway to ensure the tigress does not move further deep and instead returns to STR. We are closely coordinating with our counterparts in Jharkhand to achieve this,” Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF), Baripada, and Field Director of STR, Prakash Chand Gogineni informed.
Ironically, the location of Zeenat is at 20 km from both Odisha and West Bengal. The tigress could stray in any direction.
Odisha’s forest department officials always kept track of Zeenat’s movements, as the tigress was fitted with a radio collar capable of transmitting satellite signals to pinpoint her location, along with emitting VHF signals. A dedicated tracking team from Odisha, supported by field staff from the Jharkhand forest department, is monitoring her closely. Plans are underway to guide the tigress back to STR.
When asked if the department would resort to tranquillisation in the event of its failure to bring the tigress back naturally, Mr. Gogineni said the decision would be taken at higher level.
The senior forest official said, “it is natural that a tiger initially tries to home itself in newer territory. A tiger prefer dense forest. However, in case of Zeenat it has strayed from dense into bushy sparse forest. In that way we face little risk. We are hopeful that the tigress would come back after scanning the territory. Similar incidents had happened in Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh when tiger was introduced.”
Prior to Zeenat, 31-month-old Jamuna, was released in southern part of STR from Tadoba on October 28 this year. Though she continues to move around in larger area, she would settle down in southern sector.
Both Zeenat and Jamuna are part of Odisha government’s efforts to introduce six tigers in Similipal. It had received nod of National Tiger Conservation Authority with regards to two big cats only. Odisha forest department is worried about presence of sizeable pseudo-melanistic tigers in its Similipal, a result of inbreeding.
According to the All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE) 2023-24 report, Similipal, Odisha’s largest tiger reserve, is home to around 27 tigers and 12 cubs. As per estimation, total 13 adult tigers (seven females and six males) were found to be pseudo-melanistic in Similipal, and no other wild habitat in the world has pseudo-melanistic tigers.
Divisional Forest Officer of Jhargram, Umar Imam said that he is constantly in touch with his counterparts in Jharkhand to stay on high alert about the tigress Zeenat that has now walked and reached the West Bengal border, close to Jhargram.
Mr. Imam further said, “There is no reason to panic as we have taken all precautionary measures to handle any emergency situation. Our tracking team has put on alert.” He also said that there is no additional alert for tourists in the area but asked no one to “venture out into the forest after sunset”.
The news of the stray tigress has put Jhargram residents on high alert. It has also brought back memories from six years ago when a tiger was found dead inside Jhargram’s Lalgarh forest with injury marks on its carcass. Two locals were booked in the incident as it turned out that the locals had attacked the tiger with sharp objects and beaten it to death after it entered residential areas.
A study titled ‘High frequency of an otherwise rare phenotype in a small and isolated tiger population’ conducted by multiple authors including Uma Ramkrishnan, molecular ecologist and professor at National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, says approximately 37% of tigers in the STR are pseudo-melanistic, characterised by wide and merged stripes.
“The high frequency of the pseudo-melanistic tigers in Similipal and the apparent absence everywhere else suggests strong stochastic effects and inbreeding operating locally in this population,” the study says. Recently, the government had mooted establishment of a melanistic tiger safari – a first of its kind in the world, in buffer region of Similipal.
Odisha’s experience with tiger reintroduction has been fraught with challenges. The State’s attempt to supplement the tiger population in Satkosia Tiger Reserve that marked India’s first interstate tiger relocation programme in 2018 ended in failure, largely due to local community hostility. One of the tigers brought from Madhya Pradesh died after being caught in a poacher’s snare. The other relocated female tiger frequently ventured into human settlements, prompting forest officials to tranquilise her and confine her to an enclosure.
Published - December 12, 2024 07:48 pm IST
