Tue Dec 31 16:57:53 UTC 2024: **Stray Tiger Zeenat Returned to Odisha After West Bengal Capture**
KOLKATA, December 31, 2024 – Tiger Zeenat, who evaded capture for nearly three weeks after wandering from Odisha, is back on her way home. Captured in West Bengal on December 29th, the tigress, whose journey spanned three states, is being transported back to Similipal National Park in Odisha following the completion of necessary paperwork.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) requested Zeenat’s safe return and immediate release. Her journey, which began in Odisha and involved traversing West Bengal and Jharkhand, kept forest officials on high alert. After entering West Bengal on December 19th, she eluded several capture attempts across three districts before finally being tranquilized.
Following her capture, Zeenat was temporarily housed at the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. According to NTCA Member Secretary Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, her transfer back to Similipal is underway, with a “green corridor” – a route ensuring uninterrupted travel – being established for her transport. Mr. Bhardwaj emphasized that the return will adhere to proper security protocols.
The operation involved a team from the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, led by 58-year-old Deputy Ranger Mrityunjay Biswas, a veteran with over 42 years of experience. Mr. Biswas and his team were called in after previous attempts to tranquilize Zeenat failed due to her ability to remove darts. He described the successful capture, crediting the use of a shorter nylon enclosure and a neck dart, combined with swift restraint by his team. He expressed relief that both the team and Zeenat remained unharmed. The operation proved challenging due to the hilly terrain, unlike the plains and deltas of the Sundarbans to which the team is accustomed.
Zeenat, originally relocated to Similipal from Tadoba in Maharashtra to bolster Odisha’s tiger population, is expected to arrive safely at her destination. The successful return concludes a tense operation, highlighting the complex challenges of wildlife relocation and capture.
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