Odisha to Boost Big Cat Numbers with New Tigers and Giraffes

Forest officials in Odisha are set to relocate five Royal Bengal Tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, expected to be completed by September. Three tigers will go to Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and two to Similipal Tiger Reserve. Meanwhile, Nandankanan Zoological Park will receive two giraffes by the end of the month.

Forest officials in Odisha are taking significant steps to augment the big cat population by relocating five Royal Bengal Tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The relocation is scheduled for completion in September, according to Susanta Nanda, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)-Wildlife.

Three of these tigers are to be released into Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sambalpur, while two will be introduced into the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj. Nanda confirmed both states have consented to the transfer and identified the tigers from their core forest areas.

In addition to the big cat initiative, Nandankanan Zoological Park will soon welcome two giraffes from Kolkata's Alipore Zoological Garden through an animal exchange program. Meanwhile, the zoo mourned the loss of its male lion 'Krish', who passed away due to old age.

(With inputs from agencies.)