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Source-This post is based on the article “Odisha to establish a melanistic tiger safari – a first of its kind in the world” published in “The Hindu” on 24th January 2024.
Why in the News?
The Odisha government has recently announced the establishment of the world’s first melanistic tiger safari.
About the Melanistic tiger safari
1) The safari is set to be developed near Baripada, the district headquarter of Mayurbhanj.
2) A 200-hectare site adjacent to National Highway-18 has been earmarked for this initiative.
3) It is located near the Similipal Tiger Reserve(STR) in Mayurbhanj.
What are Melanistic tigers?
| Aspect | Details |
| About | Black tigers (also known as Melanistic Royal Bengal Tiger) are a rare colour variant of the Bengal tiger. These are not a distinct species or geographic subspecies. |
| Location | They have been recorded only in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha. |
| Population | In the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation, in Similipal Tiger Reserve, 10 melanistic tigers were reported out of the total 16 tigers in the reserve. |
| Conservation Status | IUCN: Endangered |
| For more information on melanistic tiger, Click here to read |
UPSC Syllabus- Environment (Species in News)
