Hello, world! My identify is Zeenat and I’m a stripingly fairly three-year-old tigress (consider me as wild feline equal of an 18-year-old human). I used to be born in Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. But life has larger plans for me. They informed me I’m to be a pioneer, a bringer of recent genes to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, a task meant to strengthen the tiger lineage. I used to be dropped at Similipal on Nov 14, and I spent 10 days in a mushy enclosure.
Nov 24: The gates to my new wild residence are lastly opened at Chahala. Sure, the people have their causes for releasing me into the wild, hoping I’ll breed a powerful era of tigers. But truthfully? I’m not eager about enjoying the half but. I slip by means of a niche within the fence and, identical to that, I’m off.
Dec 9: Something in me purrs, “Go additional.” I hear. With moonlight as my information, I cross over from Similipal into Jharkhand in a single day, fording the Subarnarekha. When the solar rises, the people appear puzzled. They monitor me by means of that little gadget they put round my neck – a radio collar – and realise I’m not in Odisha. I wander 5km into Jharkhand’s Chaibasa. It is just not a troublesome journey.
Dec 10: The people are nervous and monitor me with their units, ensuring they know precisely the place I’m. They ship out alerts to authorities in Bengal, simply in case I resolve to make a run for it into their forests. They additionally attain out to Jharkhand’s authorities. I hear their whispers within the wind, their fear travelling quicker than my paws. But I’m not eager about returning to Similipal. Not but. For now, I keep put in Jharkhand.
Dec 11: Oh, they’re getting severe. The people need to tranquillize me and produce me again to Similipal. An entire crew armed with darts is shipped to regulate me. The concept of being knocked out would not sound interesting. I preserve transferring, protecting distances at evening, at all times staying a number of steps forward.
Dec 15: I keep put for a bit in Rajabasa of Chakulia vary (in Jharkhand). I take down some prey and wish a relaxation. The people monitor me carefully, following each sign from my collar. They are relieved I have never gone nearer to villages or gotten too interested in human settlements.
Dec 17: I begin heading south, inching nearer to Odisha. Kumki elephants are introduced in, and the people hope they may assist information me again. As if I’m going to allow them to herd me like cattle. I’m not enjoying alongside. I retreat deeper into the forests of Chakulia vary. I turn out to be a shadow.
Dec 18: The people appear not sure whether or not to tranquillize me. I overhear them saying I’m weak and have not eaten since Saturday (Dec 14). Weak? Me? I smile inwardly on the irony. Tigers like me thrive on resilience. They hope to catch me in one in every of their darting operations, however each transfer they make, I counter with stealth.
Dec 20: Surprise! I’ve crossed into Bengal’s Jhargram forest. The people are on edge. They are fearful I’d stray too near densely populated areas. I’m not planning to trigger hassle. So, I transfer quietly, avoiding folks and their villages. The panorama right here is more difficult, extra rugged, and I’m loving it. I transfer swiftly.
Dec 21: Belpahari vary in Jhargram, a pit cease. The radio collar’s indicators are patchy, and I sense the people’ frustration. They cannot appear to determine the place I’ll pop up subsequent. The forests listed below are totally different, the prey scarce, and the human presence palpable. I do not linger.
Dec 22: Here I’m, deep in Purulia district’s Bandwan, 50km from the place I used to be final noticed. The people try to get a lock on my place by means of the collar, however it’s not simple when the land is difficult. I’m cautious, staying away from villages and specializing in wildlife round me. Will I return to Similipal? Perhaps. But for now, my journey continues.
