Bhubaneswar: As part of tiger relocation initiative, a second tigress, named Ganga, has been successfully translocated from Maharashtra to the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district.
The move, executed by the Wildlife wing of Odisha’s Forest Department, is part of a larger plan to introduce new genetic diversity to the reserve’s tiger population, which faces inbreeding challenges.
According to reports, a dedicated team from Odisha, including a veterinarian, a range officer, and an assistant conservator of forests (ACF), traveled to Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to oversee the relocation process. After a week-long preparation, Ganga arrived safely at Similipal on Thursday.
This recent translocation follows the arrival of another tigress, Jamuna, who was brought to Similipal on October 27. Jamuna was initially kept in a quarantine enclosure to adapt to her new surroundings, where she was provided prey to help her acclimatize. After successfully adjusting, she was recently released into the wild.
The Similipal Tiger Reserve now hosts a total of 27 tigers, 13 of which display a rare pseudo-melanistic trait resulting from genetic mutations due to inbreeding. This condition has led to black-striped coats and could negatively impact the genetic health of the normal yellow-coated Bengal tiger population in the future.
Odisha’s tiger relocation project is designed to infuse a fresh gene pool into the reserve, aiming to improve genetic diversity and promote a healthier tiger population over the long term.
