This is the only wildlife reserve in India to see rare black tiger

This is the only wildlife reserve in India to see rare black tiger (Image: Canva)

The Similipal Tiger Reserve of Odisha, Mayurbhanj district, is one of the most biodiverse reserves in India. It is found in more than 2,700 square kilometres in the greater Similipal Biosphere Reserve, and is unique due to its rare wildlife, dense forests, and magnificent waterfalls. What is quite unusual, though, is the fact that it is the only place in India where the rare black tiger was recorded.

The black tiger is a rare genetic defect that leads to a mechanism of making the stripes of the tiger very broad and dark to give the effect that the tiger is almost all black. These sightings are very rare in the entire world, yet a few have been recorded in Similipal, and thus it is considered a unique tourist attraction to wildlife lovers and researchers.

The Sixty-six species are found in sal forests, grasslands and river valleys, which form a fertile ecosystem of Similipal. It possesses such species of animals as elephants, leopards, gaur, dhole (wild dogs), and more than 300 bird species, other than black tigers. Such biodiversity allows each safari to see something really remarkable, not only tigers.

The reserve also helps the tribal communities that coexist with nature to add to the culture of the scenery. Conservation campaigns by local individuals, coupled with government protection through the Project Tiger, have provided a boost to the population of the big cats in this area, but one can hardly see them, and needs to be patient.

Other attractions close to Similipal that the visitors can visit include Barehipani and Joranda waterfalls, as well as take scenic walks through picturesque trails. The most appropriate time to visit is during the period between November and June, when the weather is pleasant and there is more wildlife. Its conservation policies are very strict, and as a result, the amount of human impact on the reserve is minimal, which preserves its delicate ecosystem.

Similipal Tiger Reserve is not only a wildlife reserve but also a representation of the flexibility of nature and its enigma. An encounter with a black tiger in the wild is a life-changing experience and makes us remember that there is no end to how different and unexpected the wilderness in India may be.