With all formalities complete and the necessary enclosures ready, Satkosia Tiger Reserve is all set to receive three pairs of Royal Bengal Tigers from Madhya Pradesh any time now.
The tiger relocation was mooted and worked out by Forest Minister Bijayshree Routray since last year and it will be the first such effort in the country.
“We have completed all the formalities and preparedness to bring six pairs of tigers from Madhya pradesh as soon as possible .There is a strike by the field staff there and the moment it is over we will start the process of bringing two tigers to here in first place” said Sudarshan Panda, the additional chief conservator of forest of Angul circle here.
Satkiosia Tiger Reserve (STR) has two tigers out of 40 in the state as per the census and one is very old.
Odisha government intends to bring six pairs of tigers to the reserve to supplement tigers for breeding and enhancing population, said Minister Routray who held series of meetings with the National Tiger Conservation authorities at Delhi and discussed matters with experts.
The prey base at Satkosia and the other related aspects were studied and it was found suitable to relocate tigers from MP, stated the Minister.
As per the mandatory provision a proposal to this effect was sent to Ministry of forest and Environment (MOEF) which was obtained and also there was a nod from NTCA in 2017.
Madhya Pradesh government was then approached and agreed in February this year followed by the visit of top forest department officials to the three tiger reserves there from where six tigers are to be shifted. The reserves are Kanha, Badabagarh and Panna.
According to Panda earlier on two occasions in India there were translocation of tigers that too within the state of MP.
“But this time on third time in the country first interstate translocation of tigers takes place,” he added.
STR consists of Satkosia Gorge sanctuary and Baisipali sanctuary spread over an area of 963.87 sq. kms covering five districts .The districts are Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Angul and Nayagarh.
There are 118 villages are located in the STR region out of which the authorities excluded 104 villages by reorganising the area. There are five villages in core area out which one village Raigoda has already been shifted, according to Panda.
“Now a proposal has been sent to state government increase the STR area to 1136 sq kms from the current 963, 87 sq kms,” he informed.
Satkosia authorities have meanwhile constructed two enclosures over five acres of land with water supply and all facilities for the guest tigers. CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor their activities. Two veterinary doctors have been posted and two scientists from wild life institute of India joined STR for the tigers.
All the six tigers will be released in phases. The dates are to be finalised.
Sakosia after Similipal is the second tiger resave in the state where as Sunabeda is yet to get the status even though it has tigers.
The tigers from MP will be released in the five acre enclosures erected in the sanctuary itself initially to keep a watch and subsequently let out.
Minister Routray informed that the experts have also suggested that Odisha can experiment with tigers bred in Nandankanan Zoo by releasing cubs to Chandaka forests adjacent to the zoo. They opine that the cubs with prey be released in a fenced enclosure spread over a huge area in Chandaka forests so that they develop natural instincts and grow before being released in the wild.
This would go a long way in increasing tiger population in the wild and avoid translocation in future, added the Minister.