Tigress Zeenat gives birth to four cubs in Similipal

The translocation effort aimed at increasing the genetic diversity of tigers in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve received a major boost when tiger Zeenat, brought from Maharashtra, gave birth to four cubs. Photos of Zeenat gently carrying her cubs in her mouth inside the sanctuary have since gone viral.

“Today, a proud chapter has been added to Odisha’s efforts to preserve natural resources and wildlife. Tiger Zeenat, moved from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, gave birth to four cubs in the conducive environment of Similipal,” Chief Minister Mohan Majhi said in a statement on X on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

“This achievement not only signifies the increase in tiger population in the state but is also an excellent testament to our administrative foresight in preserving biodiversity and creating a safe and secure habitat for wildlife,” Mr. Majhi said.

Odisha Chief Minister further said, “Special precautions have been taken by the Forest Department to ensure the safety of the mother and the cubs and their movements are constantly monitored. Thanks to the dedicated vigil of our forest staff and effective conservation policies, Odisha has today established itself as a safe haven for wildlife.”

“Our government is fully committed to preserving the ecological balance of Similipal intact and strengthening the State’s wildlife conservation initiatives in the coming days,” he said.

Zeenat went through a troubled time last year after she moved from Maharashtra in 2025. After 10 days of acclimatization in the central district of Similipal, the tiger strayed into Jharkhand and then West Bengal in the first week of December while trying to establish its own territory, alarming the forest departments of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The tiger was tranquilized and captured in West Bengal on 29 December 2025. After medical examination, the tiger was brought back to Similipal on the instructions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Later, a special protected area was created in south Similipal, while forest department officials kept a strict vigil on Zeenat.

A large number of tigers in Similipal display pseudo-melanism, characterized by black stripes that are much more pronounced than the typical coloration of the Royal Bengal Tiger. This is largely the result of inbreeding. Under NTCA supervision, Zeenat and another tiger Jamuna were released in Similipal to increase genetic diversity.

According to Similipal Tiger Reserve officials, Zeenat was released in the soft enclosure created for Jamuna in the southern section. The southern part covers a large part of the core area of ​​Simlipal and has denser forest cover and no anthropogenic pressure. Officials said the tiger will remain under observation and continue to acclimate during this period before being released into the wild.

The Odisha government had earlier planned to bring six pairs of tigers to Similipal from other states. Zeenat’s birth of four cubs is of great importance to the State Forest Department, especially after an earlier experiment to introduce a tiger in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve failed. A tiger brought from Madhya Pradesh and released in Satkosia died after falling into a poacher’s trap, while another was returned to Madhya Pradesh after encountering hostility from people in the Satkosia Reserve Forest.