Bhubaneswar, July 2: Zeenat, the tigress from Similipal who made headlines earlier this year for traversing forests across Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, is now suspected to be pregnant, according to a senior forest official.
The big cat had sparked concern and curiosity as she wandered for 23 days before being safely captured in West Bengal’s Bankura district. Following her dramatic return, Zeenat was kept under close observation in an enclosure at Similipal National Park from January 1.
“She remained healthy and active throughout her stay in the enclosure,” the official confirmed. After thorough monitoring, Zeenat was released back into the wild on April 17.
Forest authorities now believe she could be pregnant—a hopeful sign for the park’s ongoing tiger conservation efforts.
