Bhubaneswar: Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia announced that two new Royal Bengal Tigers will soon be translocated to the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargarh district, marking a significant step in reviving the big cat population in western Odisha.
The Minister revealed that the state is in close coordination with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the smooth execution of the translocation. “We need the full cooperation of local communities, and discussions are underway with them to ensure their support,” he emphasised,
Debrigarh, recently upgraded to a tiger reserve status with NTCA approval, is poised to become Odisha’s third tiger reserve after Similipal and Satkosia.
Referring to recent efforts in Similipal Tiger Reserve, the Minister noted that two tigresses — Yamuna and Zeenat (Jinat) — were successfully brought from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. However, breeding success has eluded the state so far. “Luck has not favoured us in breeding yet, but our efforts are continuing relentlessly,” he said.
Both relocated tigresses are under constant surveillance, with GPS collars for real-time tracking and camera traps for monitoring their movements and health.
