Wed Jan 01 13:53:00 UTC 2025: ## Odisha Welcomes Zeenat, Tigress Translocated to Boost Genetic Diversity
**Bhubaneswar, Odisha, January 1, 2025** – Zeenat, a three-year-old tigress, has found a new home in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve. Translocated from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve on November 14th, Zeenat’s arrival is part of a crucial initiative to combat inbreeding and enhance the genetic diversity of Similipal’s tiger population.
Zeenat’s journey was not without incident. After a period of acclimatization, she wandered into Jharkhand and West Bengal, prompting a multi-state search. She was eventually tranquilized and captured in West Bengal on December 29th and, following a medical check-up at the Alipore Zoo, transported back to Similipal on Tuesday. The West Bengal government facilitated her safe passage by creating a green corridor.
On Wednesday, Zeenat was released into a soft enclosure in Similipal’s southern division, an area with dense forest cover and minimal human activity. This follows the release of another tigress, Jamuna, earlier in the process. Officials stated that Zeenat appears healthy and is moving freely within the enclosure. The date of her eventual release into the wild will be determined by a project steering committee.
The move is significant because a considerable number of Similipal’s tigers exhibit pseudo-melanism—exaggerated black stripes—a consequence of inbreeding. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) oversees this translocation program, aiming to improve the long-term health of the tiger population. Similipal, Odisha’s largest tiger reserve, currently houses an estimated 27 tigers and 12 cubs, with 13 adult tigers showing pseudo-melanism—a phenomenon unique to this reserve.
First Piper 