Bhubaneswar, Aug 14: In a bid to increase tiger population in Odisha, Forest officials have begun the process of relocating five Royal Bengal Tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh by the end of  this September, Officials said on Wednesday.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)-Wildlife, Susanta Nanda said as many as three of these tigers will be released into the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sambalpur, while the remaining two will be relocated at the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district.

Two separate Forest teams from the State will visit Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in a week to initiate the programme, he added.

Besides, two giraffes will be brought to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar from Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata under an animal exchange programme, he further said.

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