Baripada: The Forest Department has released tigress ‘Zeenat’, brought from Maharashtra, from its soft enclosure into the core forest area of the Similipal Tiger Reserve.
According to Susant Nanda, PCCF (WL) & CWLW, tigress ‘Zeenat’ was taken to the North Division Core Area of Similipal at 9.30 pm on Sunday and released in the reserve forest. The Forest Department will now monitor her for 24 hours, he said.
Tigress Zeenat brought as an interstate translocation programme from TATR of Maharashtra would infuse the much needed genetic diversity of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Nanda wrote on his X handle.
Tigress Zeenat was tranquilized in the Tadba forest of Maharashtra on November 13 and was brought to Similipal in a special vehicle via Raipur, Sambalpur and Yashipur. A special team from Shimlipal went to Maharashtra and completed the legal process before bringing the tigress.
It is worth mentioning here that currently there are 28 tigers in the Similipal sanctuary, out of which 15 are pseudo-melanistic tigers.
