Odisha: Similipal tiger reserve loses 75 tigers in 12 years

Odisha's Mayurbhanj district holds major population of  tiger within state. Sustainable protection measures and manment initiatives have resurrected dwindling population of tigers.

According to  Odisha government, last census of tigers conducted by use of both pugmark and camera trap techniques in year 2016 showed presence of 28 tigers in Mayurbhanj's Similipal tiger reserve, which is famous for Black tigers and is only place in world that houses source population of melanistic tigers.

Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO) claimed that Similipal h 101 tigers in 2006 but w population has gone down to 28 due to a spike in poaching cases.

" reserve has lost 75 tigers. This is t a good sign because, in past dece, crores of public money has been spent alone in Similipal for protection of tiger conservation," Biswajit Mohanty, Secretary of WSO told ANI.

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"Every year central government is spending Rs. 5-6 crore for Similipal Tiger Reserve. In last 12 years both state and central governments have spent more than Rs. 100 crore. Poaching cases have also increased in present days, Who will be held responsible for this?" Mohanty said.

Asserting that illegal activities will be allowed in Similipal, WSO secretary said that he will inform Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about same. "This is our Mayurbhanj and Simlipal. refore it is my responsibility to send a mess to higher officials of Department," he ded.

He furr said that  National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) h indicated a rise in big cat population nationally but showed a decline in Odisha.

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