Baripada/Jamshedpur: A curfew-like situation has gripped several villages in the Chakulia block of East Singhbhum (Jamshedpur) district over the past four to five days due to fear of tigress ‘Zeenat’. The tigress, after straying into Jharkhand territory from Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district, has been spotted in the Chiyabandi forest in the neighbouring state, but efforts to capture her have so far been unsuccessful.
According to the Forest department, Zeenat is reportedly hungry, raising concerns that she could attack humans if given an opportunity. The Ghatsila subdivision administration has imposed prohibitory orders in Chiyabandi, Pandrasali, Dhadika, and Kharbandha villages, restricting the movement of people in the area since December 11 to ensure public safety.
Schools in Chiyabandi have been closed, while parents in neighbouring villages are refraining from sending their wards to school out of fear. Panic has spread across a 20 km radius in the area. In an attempt to capture the tigress, the Forest department tied a buffalo in the Chiyabandi forest Wednesday as bait. Early Thursday morning, Zeenat attacked the buffalo, but efforts to sedate her using tranquiliser darts failed when the shot missed its mark, allowing her to retreat into the forest. Zeenat, along with another tigress, Jamuna, was relocated to STR from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in October-November. After spending 10 days in a soft enclosure, Zeenat was released into Simlipal North’s core area November 24.
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However, she ventured out of the reserve Monday night, crossing approximately 35km to reach Jharkhand’s Chiyabandi forest via Gudabanda, Chakulia Nayagram, and Rajabasa. The tigress is being tracked using a radio collar and GPS. A team of 20 Forest personnel has been deployed to monitor her movements, and discussions are going on between the Jharkhand and Odisha governments to strategise her safe capture and return to Simlipal. STR Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni confirmed that concerted efforts are going on to bring Zeenat back to her habitat. The Forest departments of both states are working collaboratively to ensure her safety and mitigate risks to local communities.