Bhubaneswar, Jan 24: In a delightful development for wildlife enthusiasts, Odisha is set to introduce a unique melanistic tiger safari, a first-of-its-kind endeavor globally. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik shared this exciting news on Wednesday through his official X handle.

The melanistic tiger safari is planned to be established near the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj and will cover an expansive 200 hectares of land. Of this, approximately 100 hectares will be designated as a display area, while the remaining space will be dedicated to the creation of veterinary care facilities, including a rescue center, staff infrastructure, and visitor amenities.

The proposed location for the melanistic tiger safari is situated approximately 15 kilometers away from the Similipal Tiger Reserve, mirroring the same landscape, as mentioned in a government release.

Similipal Tiger Reserve is renowned as the sole habitat for melanistic tigers in the wild globally. According to the 2018 All India Tiger Estimation Report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), melanistic tigers have been exclusively identified in the Similipal Tiger Reserve.

Senior officials have indicated that surplus tigers from Nandankanan Zoo and rescued/orphaned tigers deemed unsuitable for the wild but suitable for display will be housed in the safari within an open enclosure.

The Odisha government's proposal for this initiative has received "in-principle" approval from the Technical Committee of NTCA. A committee, to be appointed by NTCA, will conduct a feasibility study at the site before granting the final approval, as per the statement.

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