Similipal Tiger Reserve Declared as National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj District

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move towards wildlife conservation and ecological preservation, the Odisha government has declared a part of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district as a National Park. The Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department issued an official notification today marking the declaration.

Spanning a total area of 2,306.61 square kilometers, STR is one of India’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuaries. As per the notification, 845.70 square kilometers of the reserve — now entirely free from human settlements and domestic animal movement — has been designated as the National Park. This move fulfills the criteria for a National Park, which mandates a completely inviolate area without any human habitation.

The decision comes following the successful relocation of six villages previously located within the 1,194.75 square kilometer core area of STR. The Mayurbhanj district administration undertook this relocation to ensure the creation of an undisturbed zone, essential for long-term wildlife conservation and ecosystem stability.

Similipal, a part of the UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve, is globally renowned for its rare melanistic or black tigers — a genetic variation that sets it apart from other tiger habitats. The All Odisha Tiger Estimation 2023-24 recorded 27 adult tigers in Similipal, comprising 14 females and 13 males, along with eight cubs.

With this declaration, Similipal becomes Odisha’s second National Park, after Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district, which received the status in 1998.

Environmentalists and wildlife experts have welcomed the decision, calling it a milestone for tiger conservation in eastern India. The National Park status is expected to bring stricter protection norms, enhanced eco-tourism prospects, and increased funding for conservation initiatives.