Bhubaneswar, Jan 1: Tigress Zeenat has been brought back to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district from West Bengal late on Tuesday. The three-year-old tigress was transported in a specially designed vehicle from the veterinary hospital at Alipore Zoo, Kolkata, via a Green Corridor.

The Odisha Forest Department's 10-member team successfully escorted Zeenat, who entered Odisha through the interstate border at Jamshola around 1:25 AM on Tuesday. Upon arrival, she was placed in a soft enclosure at Similipal for health observation and activity monitoring before determining her next steps.

Zeenat was initially released into Similipal’s core area on November 23 after being relocated from Maharashtra’s Tadoba Tiger Reserve. However, on December 8, she wandered out, eventually moving through Jharkhand and into West Bengal.

Tracking efforts became challenging after her radio collar malfunctioned. After a 21-day search, Forest officials located her in Bankura forest and successfully tranquilized her on Sunday. Her safe return marks the culmination of a rigorous operation.

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