Tigress Zeenat strays into West Bengal after leaving Jharkhand

Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: Royal Bengal Tigress Zeenat, who recently traveled from Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) into Jharkhand, has now reportedly crossed into West Bengal.

After spending approximately 11 days in Jharkhand's Chakulia Forest Range, the three-year-old tigress was spotted in the Jhargram Forests of West Bengal on Friday. In response to Zeenat’s presence, local authorities issued a high alert in the area, according to sources.

Notably, Zeenat was translocated from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra to Similipal in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, on November 14.

Reports indicate that Zeenat made her way to Jharkhand from STR on December 10. She was seen hunting a buffalo in the Rajabasa jungles near Chakulia on December 17. Following her entry into West Bengal’s Jhargram forests, a quick response team from the neighboring state began monitoring her movements.

Earlier, PC Gogineni, the field director of STR, informed the media that officials from the Odisha Forest Department are continuously tracking Zeenat using signals from her radio collar. He stated that efforts are underway to guide the tigress back to Similipal.

It’s worth noting that Zeenat and another tigress named Jamuna were translocated from Maharashtra to enhance the gene pool of the tiger population in Similipal. Interestingly, both tigers have moved away from the Similipal area; while Zeenat has entered West Bengal, Jamuna has ventured into Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district, Odisha.