Tigress Yamuna Thrives in New Odisha Home

Tigress Yamuna, relocated from Maharashtra to Odisha's Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary, is reportedly healthy and well-settled. A recent camera trap photograph taken on October 11, 2026, shows the four-year-old tigress thriving in her new habitat, nearly two years after her translocation. Yamuna was part of India's first inter-state tiger translocation program and was released into the wild from Similipal tiger reserve in November 2024.

Although her radio collar's battery is nearing exhaustion, regular camera trap images provide evidence of her continued presence and good health within Kuldiha. Officials noted that Yamuna has not returned to Similipal since her release and has established a stable home range in Kuldiha, which is part of the larger Similipal biosphere landscape.

Despite extensive monitoring during the All-India Tiger Estimation last year, no male tigers were observed interacting with Yamuna. Wildlife experts, however, remain optimistic. They anticipate that as more male tigers from Similipal disperse into adjoining areas, including near Kuldiha, the chances of Yamuna finding a mate will increase, potentially bolstering the sanctuary's tiger population.