Friendly behaviour with caretakers and quick diet adaptability made five-and-a-half years old tiger ‘Rajkumar’ eligible for 25 ha open enclosure in Gorewada Zoo. The zoo would be open for public soon. ‘Rajkumar’ was released in 25 ha open enclosure on Saturday morning. FDCM and Wildlife Research and Training Centre (WRTC) recently shifted ‘Rajkumar’ and a tigress ‘Lee’ in Gorewada Zoo and kept them in closed cells to get acclimatised in new place ahead of releasing them in the large open enclosure of Indian Safari for the visitors. “We kept ‘Rajkumar’ in a closed cell for more than 15 days to observe the beast’s behaviour and let it get habitual to new diet pattern. We took the decision of releasing the tiger after his good behaviour with caretakers and quick diet adaptability,” Gorewada Divisional Forest Officer, Pramod Panchbhai, told ‘The Hitavada’, on Saturday.

 

Along with two tigers, FDCM also shifted six sloth bears and seven leopards in Gorewada Zoo. These wild animals are also kept in closed cells to monitor their health and nutrition. ‘Rajkumar’ was captured from Bhandara district and brought to Gorewada Rescue Centre in 2017 after it ventured close to villages in the area. “The tiger had a habit to come close to villages and frequently sighted by people at nearby forest area. Once the tiger had entered the venue of a marriage party in Masulkhapa village in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh close to Maharashtra border,” said Panchbhai. After capturing the beast three years ago, the officials of Forest Department and Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) decided to release it in upcoming Indian Safari of Gorewada Zoo.

 

“The tiger is aware about food timing (3 pm) in the new home and is becoming habitual to notice the food van coming close to it daily. Also, he is aware about the time to enter the night shelter which, too, is situated inside the 25 ha open enclosure,” Panchbhai added. Sharing details of the tigress ‘Lee’, he said, “The tigress is shy and reserved. The beast has not yet adopted to food timing and other activities inside the cell. But, we will release ‘Lee’ in the open enclosure in the second phase soon.”

 

It may be noted that of six sloth bears, four prefer to stay together and are also getting keeper-friendly. The officials will also release them in the open enclosure in the second phase. However, releasing leopards will take some time as they are yet adapt to the new surroundings. N Rambabu, PCCF (HoFF), Maharashtra State; Nitin Kakodkar, PCCF (Wildlife), Maharashtra State; N Vasudevan, Managing Director, FDCM and Rishikesh Ranjan, General Manager, FDCM Nagpur were present.