odisha news: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Dec 17: Days after tigress Zeenat ventured out of Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) into Jharkhand, tigress Jamuna has also reportedly strayed out and entered the Kuladiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district.
Sources revealed that Jamuna entered Kuladiha on Sunday night. Like Zeenat, Jamuna was recently relocated from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve to Similipal. After her arrival on October 28, the two-and-a-half-year-old tigress spent time in a soft enclosure spanning two hectares, where she demonstrated her adaptability by making her first successful hunt on October 31. She was released into Similipal’s core area on November 9.
While forest officials remain occupied tracking Zeenat’s movements in Jharkhand, Jamuna’s departure has added to their challenges. Speaking on the issue, Regional Chief Wildlife Warden and Field Director of Tiger Conservation Project, PC Gogineni, stated that both tigresses are being closely tracked, and their movements are under strict monitoring.
The Odisha government had relocated the two big cats to boost the state’s tiger population. However, their unexpected exit from Similipal has raised serious concerns about the success of this initiative, leaving wildlife enthusiasts and experts questioning its viability.
