Simlipal Tiger Reserve

August 5, 2023

To protect the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and its wildlife in view of the killing of two forest frontline workers by alleged poachers, the Odisha government has set up a joint task force (JTF) comprising around 200 armed police and forest personnel.
The task force has been assigned the key responsibilities of collecting intelligence, identifying people holding illegal arms and ammunition and de-weaponing fringe/buffer villages of the tiger reserve and to prepare a database.

It is located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
Simlipal derives its name from ‘Simul’ (silk cotton) tree.
It was declared as biosphere reserve in 1994 and added to UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program in 2009.
Vegetation-includes tropical semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous hill forests, high level sal forests and sprawling meadows.
Fauna: langur, giant squirrel, chausingha (four horned antelope), wild boar, jungle cat, gaur, barking deer, sambar, Asian elephant, leopard and tiger.
Numerous waterfalls and perennial streams flow into major rivers, such as the Budhabalang, Baitarani and Subarnarekha.
The highest peak in the Similipal hill range is Khairiburu (1,168 metres).