Bhubaneswar: A rescued Royal Bengal Tiger cub that had strayed from its mother in Similipal Tiger Reserve was released into a quarantine enclosure on Saturday in the reserve’s south division, marking a crucial step in its rehabilitation and eventual return to the wild.The eight-month-old female cub had dispersed from its mother around eight days ago and wandered into Khaparakhia village under Karanjia Wildlife Division in Mayurbhanj district. Forest officials rescued the animal without using tranquilisation, luring it into a cage. At the time of rescue, the cub appeared weak and exhausted after reportedly going without food for several days.The enclosure where the cub has now been shifted was originally created for tigress Yamuna and offers a controlled environment to help the young tiger regain its strength and natural instincts.Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni said the cub’s health was monitored closely before its release into the enclosure. “It is being provided small prey animals like goats in the enclosure so that it can easily chase its prey and gradually learn hunting skills. After it fully gets acclimatised to wild conditions and develops hunting abilities, it will be released into the wild,” he said.Wildlife authorities described the incident as highly unusual, noting that tiger cubs raised in the wild generally remain with their mothers until they are about a year-and-a-half. The dispersal of such a young cub from Similipal is therefore considered a rare occurrence.Officials also pointed to a previous case highlighting the risks faced by dispersing tigers. Earlier this year, Similipal authorities seized the hide of a sub-adult melanistic tiger that had moved close to human habitation and was allegedly killed by poachers. Three persons were arrested in connection with the case.Despite presence of hundreds of villages along Similipal’s fringe areas, authorities said tigers usually remain elusive and avoid direct interaction with humans, making the cub’s appearance near habitation an uncommon event.