Bhubaneswar: In a contrast that has caught forest officials’ attention, Zeenat — initially seen as the more unstable of the two tigresses brought from Tadoba-Andhari in 2024 — has given birth to cubs, while Yamuna, considered steadier, is yet to find a mate, and remains largely confined to Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, instead of moving into Similipal’s core habitat after release.Kuldiha is part of the larger Similipal biosphere, but it is not within its jurisdiction. Yamuna, now 4, was released first in the inter-state tiger translocation from a place in south division of Similipal. But it has hardly stayed in Similipal habitat, officials said.Wildlife officials added Yamuna has settled in Kuldiha. In the all-India tiger estimation exercise that was carried out in Nov and Dec last year, the result of which is yet to come, thousands of camera traps were installed, but Yamuna was not once seen encountering any male, they said.“Not encountering a tiger so far doesn’t mean she won’t do so in future. Tigers are dispersing from Similipal, and many males are being sighted close to the bordering areas of Kuldiha sanctuary. Let the estrus cycle come, when she will go through hormonal changes, she will naturally get a mate. This means while going through an estrus cycle, tigers are drawn towards tigresses,” a wildlife officer said.Wildlife officials said tigresses get acclimatised in new habitat sooner than the male cats.They said Yamuna is expected to be compatible with a tiger once it encounters one. Similipal has robust prey density, which can sustain tiger population. National Centre for Biological Sciences and Similipal both worked on compatibility factors of tigers from Central India landscape with that of Similipal.
