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Context

• The death of a rare black tiger reported after three decades in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district could have a big impact on the population of the animals, an expert has told.

Details

• The rare big cats with distinctive dark stripe patterns are Bengal tigers with a gene mutation and are only found in the region.
• Simlipal has the world's highest rate of black tiger sightings in the world.
• Black tigers were first officially recorded in the forests of Similipal in 1975-76.
• The tigers in the Similipal Tiger Reserve are an isolated population in eastern India and gene flow between them and other tiger populations is very restricted.

About Similipal Tiger Reserve

• Similipal, which derives its name from ‘Simul’(Silk Cotton) tree, is a national park and a Tiger Reserve situated in the northern part of Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district.
• The tiger reserve is spread over 2750 sq km and has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
• The park is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini.
• At least twelve rivers cut across the plain area, all of which drain into the Bay of Bengal. The prominent among them are Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Salandi, Kahairi and Deo.

Flora and fauna

• The vegetation is a mix of different forest types and habitats, with Northern tropical moist deciduous dominating some semi-evergreen patches.
• Sal is the dominant tree species here.
• The park also has extensive grasslands that are grazing grounds for many of the herbivores. These forests boast of many plants that have medicinal and aromatic properties. 
• The park is known for the tiger, elephant and hill mynah. It holds the highest tiger population in the state of Orissa.
• Apart from the tiger, the major mammals are leopard, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, four-horned antelope, giant squirrel and common langur.
• Grey hornbill, Indian pied hornbill and Malabar pied hornbill are also found here.
• The park also has a sizeable population of reptiles, which includes the longest venomous snake, the King cobra and the Tricarinate hill turtle.
• The Mugger Management Programme at Ramatirtha has helped the mugger crocodile to flourish on the banks of the Khairi and Deo Rivers. 

History

• The Tiger Reserve originated as a hunting ground for the surrounding royalty.
• It was formally designated a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in May 1973.
• The Government of Orissa declared Similipal as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979.
• Later in 1980, Government of Orissa proposed 303 sq. km of the sanctuary as National Park.
• The Government of India declared it as a biosphere reserve in 1994. UNESCO added this National Park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.
• This tiger reserve also comes under Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve that includes the adjacent Hadgarh and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Apart from its biodiversity, the region around Similipal forests is home to a variety of tribes. Prominent among these are Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/melanistic-tiger-dies-in-similipal-tiger-reserve/article66800133.ece

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