Baripada, Aug 20: Tigress Zeenat, brought to Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve under the big cat supplementation project, is adapting well to her new habitat, according to STR officials.
As per reports from forest authorities, Zeenat is currently roaming the core areas of Similipal and showing signs of healthy adaptation. She is actively hunting wild prey such as sambar deer, chital, and wild pigs, demonstrating that she has adjusted successfully to the reserve's ecosystem.
“Since her release, Zeenat has remained largely within the core zone of the reserve,” said Samrat Gouda, Deputy Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve. “Her consistent predation on wild animals and natural behavior indicates that she is in good health. We are monitoring her round-the-clock through satellite tracking and camera traps, which give us continuous data on her movement and condition.”
Forest officials are particularly encouraged by the tigress's stable activity pattern. Teams are stationed across the reserve to track her movements and ensure her safety. Camera trap footage has also confirmed her physical health and territorial movements within the reserve.
This update comes after Zeenat made headlines last year with an unexpected 23-day journey across three states Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal after straying out of Similipal. She was eventually tracked down and brought back safely to the reserve.
Officials view her current behavior as a positive sign of long-term integration, which is critical for the success of India's tiger conservation and rewilding efforts.
Zeenat’s relocation to Similipal is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen tiger populations in reserves with low breeding numbers, ensuring genetic diversity and ecological balance.
