Zeenat heads back home, state creates green corridor
Times of India | 1 January 2025
123456 Kolkata: West Bengal forest department on Tuesday night handed over tigress Zeenat to Odisha. It left for Similipal Tiger Reserve around 8 pm on Tuesday.
Bengal's chief wildlife warden Debal Roy said: "We have completed all formalities. Zeenat's health parameters are fine. The board of vets and an expert panel have certified it ‘fit'. Odisha officials left Kolkata on Tuesday night.New Year SpecialUnbelievable! 2025's most powerful zodiac predictions are here50+ Happy New Year 2025 Wishes & Quotes to share joy and cheerNumerology 1-9: What the numbers hold for us next yearGreen corridor was arranged for them and cops were provided to the convoy till Odisha border."
The convoy had six cars, including vehicles of Bengal Police, Bengal wildlife officials, Similipal field director, Similipal deputy director and the one carrying Zeenat.
Chief conservator of forest, S Kulandaivel, earlier on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that the administrative procedures had been initiated for the tigress's transfer to Odisha.
A senior official disclosed that Zeenat's blood samples underwent analysis to detect any worms or parasites. "The reports are satisfactory and the tigress remains in good health," he said.
Earlier on Monday, the National Tiger Conservation Authority instructed the Bengal forest department to initiate the transfer process to Odisha whilst adhering to all NTCA protocols.
"The animal requires release into the wild, and to prevent any human imprinting during captivity, as requested by Odisha CWLW, I am directed to reiterate that under section 38 O (2) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the said tigress may please be translocated back to Similipal at the earliest..." the letter stated.
The authority also queried the rationale behind transferring the animal to Alipore zoo.
A Bengal forester said it was kept at zoo hospital and not inside the main zoo complex.
He explained that according to NTCA protocols, if a tranquillised tiger is deemed healthy, young, and without impairments (loss of canine, injury, broken paw etc.), as verified by an appointed expert committee, release is permissible. "We required time to assess any potential canine loss, injuries or broken paws, necessitating proper infrastructure for examinations. Additionally, given the tigress's prolonged presence in human-populated areas and consumption of cattle, blood tests were essential to detect any viruses, parasites or worms. Hence, Alipore zoo hospital, with its comprehensive facilities, was chosen," he elaborated.
Zeenat, relocated to Similipal from Maharashtra's Tadoba under a translocation programme, left the reserve on Dec 8 and entered Jharkhand.
On Dec 20, it crossed into Bengal at Belpahari from Jharkhand's Chakulia and moved to Purulia on Dec 22. On Dec 28, it entered Bankura and was captured in the district's Gosaindihi village on Dec 29 evening.
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