Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), July 29: The Central Zoo Authority approved the world’s first melanistic tiger safari at Similipal Tiger Reserve, as announced by Susanta Nanda, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife in Odisha, coinciding with International Tiger Day celebrations. The safari will be established on 100 acres of land at Manjiapada in Baripada.
In January, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik revealed plans for this unique safari, aimed at showcasing the pseudo-melanistic tigers of Similipal, known for their distinctive broad black stripes. The safari is expected to be open to visitors by October this year.
Nanda also shared on X: “Tigers are roaring back in Similipal Tiger Reserve, the only place in the world to host these wild melanistic tigers. Let’s protect our gem. Odisha’s forests have historically been a source for tiger populations from MP and Maharashtra. We must protect these corridors for their continued proliferation.”
In another X post, Nanda highlighted that in March 2013, a tiger from Satkosia, later named Nandan, had come to Nandankanan Zoo in search of a mate. Despite leading a healthy life, genetic studies have now confirmed its origin from the central Indian landscape, underscoring the importance of protecting these vital corridors.
