With special drones aided with thermal imagery, night vision equipment, cages with fresh baits and tranquiliser teams, the officials of Forest Department of Odisha and West Bengal are trying their best to capture three-year-old female tiger, Zeenat.

Zeenat, brought to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha from Tadoba – Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra on November 14 as part of a programme to strengthen the reserve’s gene pool, strayed out of the park on December 10 and entered Jharkhand forests. After staying in Jharkhand’s Chakulia area for over a week, she crossed another 15 km and entered Jhargram in West Bengal last week. She is currently in the forest area of Bandwan in Purulia district.

“We are using all the equipment available to us… Our teams are coordinating with forest officials of West Bengal who are also present in the area where the tigress is currently located,” said Prakash Chand Gogineni, Director, Simlipal Tiger Reserve.

“The main challenge is that it is always difficult to capture a wild animal like a tiger. Zeenat has been avoiding any human contact. On one hand, it is good since there is less chance of a conflict. However, this also makes it difficult for us to capture her. Moreover, she has been constantly on the move. However, we are leaving no stones unturned to capture the tigress without harming it,” added Gogineni.

According to the forest department sources, three trap cages have been placed with fresh bait of lamb.

Three special teams with tranquilizers are also placed along with the cages.

“We just hope the Zeenat comes and takes the bait. She is extremely clever in avoiding people, even the expert forest department teams,” said a senior officer of the state forest department.