Melanistic male T-12, Zeenat likely to mate in Similipal

Bhubaneswar: A male melanistic tiger's (T-12's) consistent movement close to tigress Zeenat's enclosure and courtship behaviour indicates a high chance of mating between the pair in Similipal Tiger Reserve, wildlife wing of the forest department observed on Wednesday. The wildlife wing may consider releasing Zeenat into the wild because of this positive indicator.
"Big cat T-12, considered the strongest male in the habitat, was found to be roaming and killing prey close to Zeenat's enclosure and making moves to cohabit. We will observe further interaction of the pair and then take a final call to open the gate of the enclosure to allow Zeenat to walk free," said chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha.
After spending two and a half months in a small enclosure in Similipal, Zeenat was shifted to a bigger one spanning 20 acres as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Zeenat was captured on Dec 29 last year in West Bengal after its dispersion from Similipal and brought to the latter on Jan 1.
Explaining why the male partner will be T-12 only, the top wildlife officer said, "T-12 is the lone strong and dominating male tiger in Similipal, whose behaviour has been studied. If it has come to cohabit, it is not likely that any other male tiger in the landscape will try its luck with Zeenat. If the consistency is maintained, we will be sure that the mating will be a success," Jha added.
Wildlife officials said T-12 fathered most of the melanistic tigers in Similipal since the time when the big cat population was dwindling. "Zeenat comes from a different gene pool and if it mates with T-12, the offspring will be of fresh blood and possibly of normal colour and not melanistic. Melanistic has been considered to be born out of repetitive in-breeding," wildlife officials said.
The 3-year-old feline, after it was brought from Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve, was released at Similipal's Chahala, a core area in the reserve's northern part, on Nov 14. While dispersing, it crossed Bangiriposhi ghat in an overnight journey en route to Badampahar-Dhobadhobin elephant corridor to land at Chaibasa. From there, it went to Rajabasa under Chakulia range of Jharkhand, and then to West Bengal.