July 29th 2024.
Baripada, a beautiful city in the state of Odisha, is soon going to be home to the world's first melanistic tiger safari. According to a top forest official, the safari will be located near the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district and is expected to open by the end of this year.
The proposal for this unique safari has already received "in-principle" approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, with the Central Zoo Authority also endorsing it. Susanta Nanda, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, shared this exciting news and mentioned that the initial plan is to relocate the melanistic tigers currently living at the Nandan Kanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar to the proposed safari, which spans 200 hectares of land next to NH-18.
Official sources reveal that the safari will cover an area of 200 hectares, with 100 hectares dedicated to the display area and the rest reserved for veterinary facilities, a rescue center, staff infrastructure, and visitor amenities. The location, just 15 km away from the Similipal Tiger Reserve, has been carefully chosen to mirror its natural landscape.
Similipal Tiger Reserve is famous worldwide for being the only habitat where wild melanistic tigers can be found. This new safari is a significant step towards promoting wildlife tourism in Odisha and giving people a rare opportunity to observe this majestic species up close. This initiative will not only benefit tourists and enthusiasts but also aid in the conservation and research of these beautiful creatures.
In January, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the plans for the melanistic tiger safari near Similipal. Nanda emphasized the importance of protecting the forests in Odisha, which serve as crucial corridors for tiger populations migrating from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
In a post on social media, Nanda expressed his excitement about the project, stating that "Tigers are roaring back in Simlipal Tiger Reserve - the one and only place in the world to host the famed wild melanistic tigers. Let's protect our gem. Odisha forests were and still are a sink to source populations from MP and Maharashtra. Let's protect the corridors for them to thrive."
According to the first All Odisha Tiger Estimation conducted in 2023-24, the population of Royal Bengal Tigers has increased to 30 in the past two years in the state. However, the All India Tiger Estimation report of 2022 had only recorded 17 tigers, mostly confined to Similipal.
During the All Odisha Tiger Estimation exercise, a total of 27 adult tigers were camera-trapped, including 14 females and 13 males. The officials also found proof of three more adult tigers in the tiger reserve.
To commemorate International Tiger Day 2024, a 5-kilometer mini-marathon was organized by the Similipal North Wildlife Division in Jashipur, a town near Baripada. The event, titled "Run for Similipal," began with a tribute to the late Princess Tigress of Similipal, Khairi, and saw participation from 105 students from various schools and colleges.
The marathon route stretched from Khairi Niwas to Guili Siva temple, and the event concluded at the Deputy Director's office of Similipal North Wildlife Division. Following the marathon, a meeting was held to raise awareness among the participants and the public about community engagement in wildlife conservation, forest preservation, and environmental protection, according to an official statement from the organizers.
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