Tiger Reserves

Bhopal: Van Vihar National Park is preparing to welcome tigress Jamuna who had jumped out of her cage in Indore zoo last year, sending zoo officials in a tizzy. Besides Jamna, it will also receive another tiger from Indore zoo.
The duo will be in the national park within next two weeks, confirmed Indore zoo in-charge Uttam Yadav. While national park officials are trying to rein in tigress Matakali, a man-eater, they will have to double up the vigil now with the arrival of Jamna. Matakali had climbed a tree on January 2, giving tough time to the national park officials. It had taken them over four hours to bring her back in her cage.
However, Indore couple will be in the city of lakes just for six to eight months, as they will be shifted back once Indore zoo - Kamla Nehru Prani Park - creates more space to accommodate tigers. Talking to TOI, Yadav said, "We are not shifting the tigers to Bhopal permanently, we are just sending them for a few months, as we don't have adequate space at present. We will kick off the construction work soon and we hope to complete it within seven to eight months."
Van Vihar director Atul Srivastava said, "I am not aware of the name of tiger and tigress selected for Bhopal. We will first keep the couple inside the cage for initial 45 days and will observe their behaviour before zeroing in on a suitable space for their public display. We will then shift them to open area."
Earlier, the Central Zoo Authority sanctioned a pair of tigers for shifting from Indore's Kamla Nehru Prani Park to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal on January 12. The decision was taken in view of the fact that Indore zoo has seen a rise in the number of big cats.