First-Ever Melanistic Tiger Safari In Odisha’s Similipal Gets Central Zoo Authority’s Nod

Bhubaneswar: The Central Zoo Authority has granted approval to the proposed melanistic tiger safari — a first of its kind in the world — at Similipal Tiger Reserve, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife in Odisha, Susanta Nanda, informed on Monday, coinciding with the International Tiger Day celebration.

The IFS officer stated on X that the safari will come up on 100 acre of land at Manjiapada in Baripada.

In January, the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had unveiled plans for the world’s first melanistic tiger safari near the Similipal, an exclusive habitat for pseudo-melanistic tigers, which have broad black stripes running across their bodies and thicker compared to their counterparts worldwide. The safari was expected to be ready for visitors by October this year.

In a previous post on X, Nanda also mentioned: “Tigers are roaring back in Simlipal Tiger Reserve- the one & the only place in the world to host the famed wild melanistic tigers. Let’s protect our gem. Odisha forests were & is a sink to source populations from MP & Maharashtra.Let’s protect the corridors for them to populate.”

“Odisha forests were & is a sink to source populations from MP & Maharashtra.Let’s protect the corridors for them to populate,” his post on X further read.

“It was widely believed that in 2013 March, one tiger from Satkosia came to Nandankanan Zoo on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in search of a mate. Named Nandan it led a healthy life till few months back. But genetic study now has proved that it was from central Indian landscape,” he added.

The population of royal Bengal tigers has increased to 30 in the past two years in Odisha, according to the first All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE) 2023-24 report by the State forest department. The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022 report, however, had put the number at 17 and these were largely confined to Similipal Tiger Reserve. A total of 27 adult tigers were camera-trapped in Odisha during the AOTE exercise. These tigers comprise 14 females and 13 males. Proof of another 3 adult tigers was also found in the tiger reserve.