• There are a total of 10 “black tigers” (melanistic tigers) in India, all exclusively found in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, the government informed the Parliament last week.

• Melanistic tigers have broad black stripes running across their bodies and thicker than those seen in normal tigers.

• Union Minister of State for Environment, Ashiwini Kumar Choubey, told the Rajya Sabha that melanistic tigers have been documented only in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha. 

• As per the 2022 cycle of the pan-India tiger estimation exercise, the Similipal Tiger Reserve has 16 tigers, out of which 10 exhibit melanism. 

• The Similipal Tiger Reserve has been identified as a distinct conservation cluster due to its genetic composition.

Similipal Tiger Reserve

• Similipal Tiger Reserve is located within the Mayurbhanj district, in the northern-most part of Odisha. 

• Similipal is named after red silk cotton semul trees, which are found abundantly in the region.

• Similipal is amongst the first nine designated tiger reserves that were established in 1973.

• The terrain is mostly undulating and hilly, interspersed with open grasslands and wooded areas. 

• The inclined plateau has risen abruptly from the low coastal plains of the district. 

• The steep side faces the Bay of Bengal and runs northwards to finally merge with Chhota Nagpur. 

• The water level is high and the tract is woven with perennial water sources converging into rivers like Budhabalanga, Salandi and many tributaries of Baitarani river flowing from the Reserve.

• Similipal comes under the Deccan Peninsular Bio-geographic Zone, Chhotanagpur Province and Mahanadian Region. 

• The forest is predominantly moist mixed deciduous forest with tropical semi-evergreen forest in areas with suitable microclimatic conditions and sporadic patches of dry deciduous forests and grasslands. 

• Similipal harbours a unique blend of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Sub-Himalayan plant species.

• The rich diversity of habitat and mosaic of landscapes with wide altitudinal and climatic variation in Similipal supports a fascinating faunal composition.

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