Concerned over the presence of a sizeable number of pseudo-melanistic tigers in its Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) largely due to inbreeding, the Odisha government has written National Tiger Conservation Authority to consider introducing female tigers in Similipal from other landscapes.
The All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE-2023-24), a report of which was released on Monday, says a total of 30 tigers were found in the State’s forests and with 24 adult unique tigers, STR currently holds the largest share of the State’s tiger population. Similipal also holds all the adult female tigers of the State.
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