Bhubaneswar: In a striking development that has drawn the attention of forest officials, Zeenat, one of the two tigresses relocated from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in 2024, has given birth to cubs. Initially perceived as the more unstable of the pair, Zeenat's successful birthing contrasts sharply with the situation of Yamuna, who was considered steadier but has yet to find a mate. Yamuna remains largely confined to the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, rather than moving into the core habitat of Similipal after her release.
Yamuna's Limited Movement
Kuldiha is part of the larger Similipal Biosphere Reserve but falls outside its administrative jurisdiction. Yamuna, now four years old, was released first during the inter-state tiger translocation from a location in the south division of Similipal. However, she has rarely stayed within Similipal's habitat, according to wildlife officials. They added that Yamuna has settled in Kuldiha. During the all-India tiger estimation exercise conducted in November and December last year, thousands of camera traps were installed, but Yamuna was not observed encountering any male tiger. The results of the estimation are yet to be released.
Hope for Future Mating
Wildlife officials remain optimistic. "Not encountering a tiger so far does not mean she will not do so in the future. Tigers are dispersing from Similipal, and many males are being sighted close to the bordering areas of Kuldiha sanctuary. When her estrus cycle comes, she will undergo hormonal changes and naturally find a mate. During the estrus cycle, tigers are drawn towards tigresses," a wildlife officer explained.
Officials noted that tigresses tend to acclimatize to new habitats faster than male cats. They believe Yamuna is expected to become compatible with a tiger once she encounters one. Similipal boasts a robust prey density capable of sustaining a growing tiger population. The National Centre for Biological Sciences and Similipal authorities collaborated on assessing compatibility factors between tigers from the Central Indian landscape and those in Similipal.
