Similipal Tiger Reserve

• The Odisha government begun its own tiger estimation in a vast area comprising 16 ranges of Similipal Tiger Reserve and Baripada, Rairangpur and Karanjia forest divisions even as experts continue to debate the Union environment ministry’s report showing a decline in the state’s wild cat population.
• The state government is hopeful that the number of tigers in Similipal will increase from 16 to 35 once the estimation process is over.
• According to the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) report released by the Government of India in July, the total number of tigers in Odisha’s forests is 20, down from 28 in 2018.
• Out of 20, 16 tigers are there in Similipal and the rest four live in the area adjoining the Similipal tiger reserve.

ABOUT SIMPLIPAL TIGER RESERVE

• Similipal Tiger Reserve falls within the tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district.
• Spreads over 2,750 square kilometres.

• It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 and brought under Project Tiger in the year 1973.
• It was declared a biosphere reserve in 1994.
• It has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve since 2009.
• Tribes – Erenga Kharias , Mankirdias, Sahara, Santhal, Bhumija etc.
• Vegetation– semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous hill forests, high level sal forests and sprawling meadows.
• Fauna- Langur, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Mongoose, Leopard, Gaur, Elephant, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Turtle, Monitor Lizard, Python, Sambar, Pangolin