Bhubaneswar, March 18: In a remarkable sighting, a Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT) has been spotted in the forests of Odisha's Sundargarh district, marking its first appearance in the region in nearly two decades.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Susanta Nanda, shared the exciting news on Monday, revealing that the tiger had migrated from the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve in Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh. "Must have traveled few hundred miles to carve out its new territory in Odisha. Welcome," he announced on social media along with captivating images of the tiger and a folded hands emoji.

The recent All Odisha Tiger Estimation 2023-24, conducted by the Odisha government, reported a total of 30 adult tigers and eight cubs residing in the state's forests. Notably, Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district boasts the majority of the adult tiger population, housing 27 individuals, including 14 females and 13 males, along with all the cubs. Additionally, solitary adult male tigers have been sighted in the Hirakud Wildlife Division, Paralakhemundi Territorial Forest Division, and the Greater Similipal tiger landscape.

Among the adult tigers in Similipal, 13 exhibit pseudo-melanistic traits, characterized by an excessive amount of dark pigment in their coats, adding to the region's biodiversity and allure.

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