Bhubaneswar, January 24: An exclusive Melanistic Tiger Safari is coming up near Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, a first of its kind in the World.
According to reports, the technical committee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has in-principle approval to the State Government’s proposal to set up the safari.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the development on Wednesday.
“Glad to announce that Odisha is setting up an exclusive Melanistic Tiger Safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj. Tourists and visitors can now have a glimpse of the rare and majestic species found only in Odisha,” tweets Chief Minister Patnaik.
In December last year, Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan in his X handle wrote, “The first confirmed record of the now famous pseudo-melanistic tigers of Similipal came in 1993. On 21st July 1993 Salku, a young boy of Podagad village shot down a ‘black’ tigress with arrows in self-defense. The rare tigers were first officially discovered in STR in 2007. With time more were documented. They are due to rare genetic mutation and found in small population.”
As per reports, the safari will be established near Baripada in Mayurbhanj district. Around 200 Ha area adjoining NH-18 have been identified for this purpose. While about 100 Ha will be display area and the balance area shall be utilized for creation of veterinary care facilities including rescue center, staff infrastructure and visitors amenities etc.
The proposed site is about 15 km from Similipal Tiger Reserve matching the same landscape.
As per the last All India Tiger Estimation Report published by NTCA in 2018, melanistic tigers have been found in the wild only in Similipal Tiger Reserve.
As per the provision, a committee will be constituted by NTCA which will visit the site for feasibility study before giving final nod by the authority.
