In a landmark development for tiger conservation in the Sahyadri landscape, tigress STRT–04 was released into the natural forests of Chandoli National Park, part of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, on Thursday at around 8 am, officially beginning her life in the wild. The reserve spans the districts of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri.

The tigress had been housed in a controlled soft-release enclosure as part of a closely supervised rewilding programme. Although the gates were opened on November 18, 2025, she chose to remain inside for two days, successfully hunting and feeding within the enclosure. Her confident exit on Thursday marks a significant milestone in the reserve’s ongoing efforts to strengthen tiger numbers through scientific reintroduction and habitat-focused conservation.