Context: Odisha govt. writes to NTCA over the high number of melanistic tigers in the reserve forest, flags inbreeding concerns
About Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)
- It is a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha.It is part of Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas—Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees (Semul trees) growing in the area. Simlipal Tiger Reserve is famous for wide variety of wild orchids, which adds to its beauty.
- The park is home to Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, and chausingha.
Tribal communities in the region: According to the 2011 census, about 59% of the population of Mayurbhanj district is Scheduled Tribes. Some tribal communities found in and around Simlipal Tiger Reserve are Kolha, Santhal, Bhumija, Gond & Ho.
Some Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) found in the region are Khadia, Mankidia and Lodhas.
- It is Asia’s second largest biosphere reserve and the country’s only wild habitat for Melanistic Royal Bengal Tigers.
- This protected area has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.
About Melanistic Tigers
- Melanism is a genetic condition in which an increased production of melanin, a substance in the skin that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation, results in black (or nearly black) skin, feathers, or hair in an animal.
- Many royal Bengal tigers of Similipal belong to a unique lineage with higher-than-normal levels of melanin, which gives them black and yellow interspersed stripes on their coats.
- These tigers are not entirely black and are therefore more accurately described as being pseudo-melanistic.
- According to a study conducted by multiple authors, approximately 37% of the tigers in STR are pseudo-melanistic — a condition characterised by wide, merged stripes.
- Similipal’s tigers are also found to move within an isolated habitat, although it has one of the largest tracts of contiguous forest.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve
- Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve located in the border of Angul and Nayagarh district of Odisha, India covering an area of 988.30 km².
- Satkosia Tiger Reserve was designated in 2007 and comprises the Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjacent Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is located where the Mahanadi River passes through a 22 km long gorge in the Eastern Ghats mountains.
- The tiger reserve is located in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion.