Efforts Underway to Capture Tigress Zeenat Straying into West Bengal from Odisha

Efforts to capture tigress Zeenat, who wandered into West Bengal's Purulia district from Odisha's Similipal Reserve Forest, continued on Tuesday. The tigress was spotted in the Raika Hill forests within Bandwan block. A half-eaten goat carcass found nearby caused alarm among locals as Zeenat remained elusive. Villagers have been advised to keep their cattle away from the forest to avoid any incidents.

Monitoring Tigress Zeenat's Movements

Two Forest Department teams, including one from Sundarban Tiger Reserve, are tracking Zeenat using signals from her radio collar. Odisha Forest Department teams are also involved in monitoring her movements. The rugged terrain with thorny bushes has made it easier for Zeenat to evade capture, causing interruptions in the radio collar signals.

Zeenat crossed into West Bengal from Jharkhand five days ago and travelled through Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur districts before reaching Purulia. She has shown no inclination to return to Similipal, her original habitat. The tigress has covered over 100 km, exploring forests at the tri-junction of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha in search of new territory.

Efforts to Return Zeenat to Similipal

Authorities aim to guide Zeenat back to Similipal via the same route or capture and release her there. "We are trying to drive her back to Similipal through the same route, or capture her and release her there," an official stated. The goal is to ensure her safe return without causing harm to local communities or wildlife.

Zeenat and another tigress, Jamuna, were relocated to Similipal from Maharashtra's Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to introduce a new gene pool. Jamuna arrived on October 27, while Zeenat was brought on November 15 and released into the wild on November 24. This initiative aimed at enhancing genetic diversity among the tiger population in Similipal.

The ongoing efforts highlight the challenges faced by wildlife authorities in managing tiger movements across state borders. Ensuring the safety of both humans and animals remains a priority as officials work tirelessly to resolve this situation effectively.