In tragic news coming out of Odisha’s Simlipal National Park (STR) in Mayurbhanj district, one of its famous and rare pseudo-melanistic black tigers has died apparently due to infighting, as per a tweet by an Indian Forest Service officer.
Senior IFS Officer Susanta Nanda on Monday tweeted, “Sad to inform that one pseudo melanistic black tiger has died in Simlipal Tiger Reserve due to infighting. Male tigers generally clash to defend their territory. It sometimes lead to casualties.”
The incident has been reported from the core area of Simlipal tiger reserve.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Sushil Kumar Popli also confirmed the news.
Similipal Tiger Reserve is the only place in the world to house the rare black tigers.
Recently, Time Magazine’s list of 50 World’s Greatest Places of 2023 had two entries from India– Ladakh and Mayurbhanj. Mayurbhanj’s inclusion sprang a surprise for everyone. The magazine said that Mayurbhanj was chosen for its ‘rare tigers and ancient temples’.
Read This: Black Tigers & Ancient Temples Put Odisha’s Mayurbhanj On Global Tourist Map
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, 2012-batch IAS officer and Mayurbhanj collector, Mr. Vineet Bhardwaj had earlier said, “The biggest attraction, the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), located in the heart of the district, is famous for its excellent biodiversity and rare black tigers.”
STR was declared one of the nine Tiger Reserves of India in 1973, it is the second-largest biosphere reserve in Asia and is listed under the UNESCO network of biosphere reserves.
