After days of cautious movement around her enclosure, adult female tigress STR-05 (TARA) on Thursday finally entered the core forest of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, completing a scientifically monitored soft release by the Maharashtra Forest Department.

Forest officials said the gates of the soft-release enclosure were opened on December 13 at 7 am, but the tigress initially chose to stay in and around the area. During this period, she displayed natural wild behaviour, made a successful kill, and fed on it for nearly three days. On the morning of December 18, at around 7 am, TARA emerged from the enclosure and moved into the Chandoli core forest.