Tigress Zeenat, who was translocated from Maharashtra in 2024, has given birth to four cubs in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, state Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia announced on Tuesday.
The minister shared that the tigress delivered the cubs approximately 20 days ago, confirming that both the mother and her newborns are in good health.
“The cubs are under GPS-based monitoring and are safe. This is very encouraging news for the reserve,” he added.
A newly released trap camera image captured the poignant moment Zeenat was carrying one of her small cubs safely in her mouth.
Zeenat, who was three years old at the time, was transferred to Similipal alongside another tigress named Jamuna from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in November 2024. The translocation was a strategic move aimed at diversifying and reinforcing the reserve’s tiger gene pool.
Shortly after her relocation, the tigress made national headlines by embarking on an astonishing 300-kilometer trek across Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. She slipped out of Similipal on December 7, 2024, navigating multiple forest corridors before a coordinated 21-day tracking operation successfully located and captured her in West Bengal.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PK Jha, meanwhile, highlighted that because the cubs are the offspring of a Tadoba tigress and a native Similipal tiger, they possess high genetic diversity. This development is expected to secure the long-term future of the reserve’s big cat population.
“This is a conservation initiative of Odisha, involving interstate translocation of tigers, and the successful execution has become a story of resilience, science and teamwork,” he said.
Jha further noted that the primary goal of the translocation project—introducing new bloodlines to enhance genetic health—has been fulfilled with the arrival of these healthy offspring.
“After being reintroduced into the wild in April 2025, Zeenat was observed roaming with resident male tiger T-12. However, the tigress did not conceive. She moved freely inside Similipal and formed a territory in the core area. She then mated with another resident male in January 2026 and gave birth to four cubs,” he said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi celebrated the development, describing it as a proud milestone in Odisha’s ongoing wildlife conservation efforts.
He said the successful birth of the cubs reflected the conducive habitat created in Similipal.
“This success not only signifies an increase in the tiger population in Odisha but also stands as a testament to our efforts in creating a safe and robust environment for wildlife,” he said.
Majhi assured that the Forest Department has implemented stringent security measures to guarantee the safety of the mother and her cubs, keeping their movements under round-the-clock surveillance.
“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our forest staff and effective conservation policies, Odisha has established itself as a secure sanctuary for wildlife. Our government remains committed to preserving the ecological balance of Similipal and strengthening conservation initiatives further,” Majhi added.
