Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Similipal Plans Radio Collar Removal for Tigress Zeenat
Zeenat is a tigress living in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve.
She was brought there from another tiger reserve in Maharashtra in November 2024.
At first, she moved near the edge of the reserve, which worried officials.
Later, she returned and settled into the forest.
She then had four cubs in May.
Because she is doing well, officials plan to remove her radio collar remotely around October or November.
The collar can come off without putting her to sleep.
Officials will keep watching Jamuna and are seeking approval to bring in another tiger pair.
Zeenat was moved from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Similipal in November 2024.
After initially nearing the reserve’s fringes, she returned, established a home range and bred successfully.
Zeenat gave birth to four cubs in May, meeting the first phase’s main supplementation goal.
Authorities plan to remotely release her radio collar around October or November without tranquilising her.
Monitoring of Jamuna will continue, while a second tiger pair is proposed pending government approval.
- Who
- Tigress Zeenat, tigress Jamuna and wildlife authorities, including Similipal Tiger Reserve officials.
- What
- Authorities plan to remotely remove Zeenat’s radio collar after her successful adaptation and the birth of four cubs.
- When
- Zeenat was translocated in November 2024; she had four cubs in May, and collar removal is planned around October or November later this year.
- Where
- Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha; Zeenat came from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.
- Why
- The first phase of a tiger supplementation programme achieved its main goal, and Zeenat’s movements can now be monitored without keeping the collar permanently attached.
- Translocation
- Zeenat and Jamuna were moved from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Similipal in November 2024.
- Breeding result
- Zeenat gave birth to four cubs in May.
- Planned collar removal
- Authorities expect to remotely release Zeenat’s collar around October or November.
- Removal method
- The collar has a remote-release mechanism, avoiding the need to tranquilise Zeenat.
- Current monitoring
- Zeenat’s movements are monitored through her radio collar and VHF transmitter.
- Jamuna’s status
- Jamuna is using the Kuldiha landscape and has not yet reproduced.
- Proposed second phase
- Authorities are awaiting approval to introduce another male-female tiger pair from Central India.