The number of big cats in Odisha has increased, much to the relief of forest officials.
According to the All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE) 2023-2024, there are 30 adult tigers in the state with Similipal tiger reserve alone accounting for 27 of them. Besides 30 full-grown tigers, there are eight tiger cubs in the forests of Odisha. The cubs are less than one year old.
The Similipal tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district boasted of around 101 tigers between 2000-2006. In 2022, only 22 tigers were reported in the reserve, setting alarm bells ringing in the forest department.
Following this, the administration launched a drive to curb the activities of poachers.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik in his X handle tweeted, “Glad to share the first All Odisha Tiger Estimation has established the presence of 30 tigers and eight cubs in the forests of Odisha, up from 22 reported during 2022. Similipal Tiger Reserve is now home to 27 tigers. Commened@ Forest department for its sustained effort to create a hospitable habitat for our national animal to flourish.”
Apart from Similipal, the Hirakud Wildlife Division and Paralakhemundi Territorial Forest Division have one adult male tiger each. Another adult male tiger was also found to be using the Greater Similipal tiger Landscape.
Out of the 30 tigers, 27 unique adult tigers were camera-trapped in Odisha during the AOTE exercise.
They comprised 14 females and 13 males. Evidence of another 3 adult tigers was also seen in the Similipal tiger reserve, but this was not camera-trapped.
“The state has 30 tigers.
Out of them, 27 are from Similipal. But 24 are camera-trapped in Similipal,” explained officials.
With this, Similipal at present holds the largest share of the state’s tiger population.
Similipal currently holds all the adult female tigers of the state.
In Similipal, out of 24 adult unique tigers camera trapped, 14 are female and 10 are
males. “In Similipal, 13 adult tigers (seven females and six males) were found to be pseudo melanistic. No other wild habitat in the world has pseudo-melanistic tigers,” forest officials said.
