Baripada: Authorities at the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, are likely to remove the radio collar from a tigress now that she has acclimated to her surroundings within the national park, an official announced on Saturday.

Tigress Zeenat was moved from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to Odisha in November 2024. She has previously escaped from Similipal National Park, wandering through forests in Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.

According to STR field director Prakash Chand Gogineni, Zeenat was captured in December 2024 in Bankura district, West Bengal, before being released back into Similipal. She has since given birth to four cubs and appears to be thriving in her new environment.

“Zeenat has successfully established her territory in Similipal forest. We are now contemplating removing the radio collar fitted on the big cat’s neck after monsoon,” Gogineni stated.

The field director explained that the radio collar can be removed remotely. Another tigress named Jamuna, who was also relocated from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in October 2024, is wearing a radio collar as well.

Officials are continuously monitoring the movements of both tigresses.