Similipal panel to decide on removing Zeenat’s radio collar after cubs’ birth

Bhubaneswar: With tigress Zeenat giving birth to four cubs -- a milestone in Similipal Tiger Reserve’s big cat translocation success -- a technical committee will soon decide on removing her radio collar using a remotely triggered drop-off mechanism, without tranquilisation.

The panel comprises a functionary from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), scientist from Wildlife Institute of India, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and Similipal field director.

“Not only will the radio collar be removed, but also monitoring through Very High Frequency (VHF) antenna will be minimised once the cubs are found secure, self-dependent in movement and stable with the mother. That is possible after a month, as by then the cubs will be around two months old,” said Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni.

On Monday, Similipal authorities, through a camera trap image, came to know about Zeenat giving birth to four cubs. The tigress was brought from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to Similipal — home to rare melanistic tigers — in 2024 to ensure a new genetic pool, and the birth of the cubs achieved its primary target.

Similipal authorities said the battery of the radio collar around Zeenat’s neck will become exhausted in less than a year, and it will be of no use. “The purpose of having a radio collar has been served. The committee will take a call on removing it. The battery is expected to be in working condition at most till Dec,” a wildlife official said.

Usually, the weight of a radio collar of a female tiger is 1.1 kg, and that of a male is 1.3 kg. It has a GPS chip, battery and VHF signal receiver, apart from the belt itself. It costs about Rs 5 lakh.

Official sources said at present, neither Similipal authorities nor the NTCA will include the cubs in the habitat’s big cat population, since there is a chance of mortality. Until they become sub-adults, they won’t be counted. Moreover, the result of All India Tiger Estimation, the exercise of which has been completed, will come in July-end, and that will reflect Similipal’s number as well. But then also, the surviving cubs won’t be included in the database.