Emotional Drama Unfolds: Odisha Tigress Darted in Bengal with Tranquillising Gun – Officials Await Confirmation of Impact
After a 300-kilometer journey across Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal over 18 days, a three-year-old tigress named Zeenat, who initially strayed from Odisha’s Similipal National Park, was the target of capture efforts by forest officials. On Saturday, two attempts to tranquilize the tigress failed. The first attempt was made at 3:15 PM and the second at 9:45 PM near Gosaindihi village in the Ranibandh area of West Bengal’s Purulia district. Visibility issues due to misty jungle conditions were cited as challenges, resulting in unsuccessful darting attempts even when calculated based on her radio collar position.
Chief Wildlife Warden Debal Roy explained that successful darting requires precision, including proper angle and liquid sufficiency to ensure the tigress is sedated. Despite setbacks, a joint effort by personnel from West Bengal’s Sundarbans, Jhargram, and Odisha is ongoing, with plans to create another attempt to tranquilize Zeenat and bring her back to her original habitat in Similipal.
Forest authorities are hopeful about containing the tigress within a 20-25 hectare area successfully cordoned off. Odisha’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), PK Jha, expressed optimism in capturing and returning Zeenat within a day or two. In preparation, Similipal authorities are also exploring new release areas within the reserve for Zeenat. The tigress had initially been reintroduced from Maharashtra’s Tadoba – Andhari Tiger Reserve in November to enhance Similipal’s genetic diversity, before she made her way out and moved through various locations, from Jharkhand’s Chakulia to several districts in West Bengal. The alert and preparation in place reflect a dedicated effort to safely capture the elusive feline while minimizing risks to both the animal and local communities.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/odisha-tigress-darted-in-bengal-using-tranquillising-gun-yet-to-be-verified-if-its-hit-officials-9749392/
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Publish Date: 2024-12-29 05:34:00
