Simlipal tiger Reserve

• There are a total of 10 “black tigers” in India, all exclusively found in Odisha’s Similipal TR.
• These “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 coat colouration and patterning causing the wild cats to appear dark stem from a single mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene.
• Tigers in the Similipal Tiger Reserve form an isolated population in eastern India, with very limited gene flow between them and other tiger populations.
• Such isolated and inbred populations are highly susceptible to extinction, even over short periods.

ABOUT SIMILIPAL TIGER RESERVE

• STR is located within the Mayurbhanj District, Odisha.
• It was declared a ‘Tiger Reserve’ in the year 1956 and included under the national conservation programme ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973.
• The STR was included as a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in the year 2009.
• Flora– Northern tropical moist deciduous with some semi-evergreen patches. About 1078 species of plants, including 94 species of orchids, are found here.
• Tribes- Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.
• Fauna: Leopard, Gaur, Elephant, Langur, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear Mongoose, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Turtle, Monitor Lizard, Python, Sambar, Pangolin etc.
• It is the only landscape in the world that is home to melanistic tigers.
• The Similipal Tiger Reserve has been identified as a distinct conservation cluster due to its genetic composition and provided a financial support of ₹ 32.75 crore for wildlife conservation, habitat management, human resource, and infrastructure development under the centrally sponsored scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH).