Recently, in Similipal National Park the West Bengal Forest Department has set up four teams with Hula (torch) party members to trace Zeenat, a female tiger, in Purulia district as the three-year-old big cat has been elusive for more than two weeks. The tiger had escaped from the Similipal Reserve Forest in Odisha on December 10.

About Similipal National Park

• A national park and tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
• Protected Area consists of – 2,750 km²
• This park derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees found in the area.
• Home to mainly few main species that are – Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Gaur, and Chausingha.
• Formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 under Project Tiger.
• Declared Similipal National Park as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979.
• Declared Similipal National Park as a biosphere reserve in 1994.
• Part of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2009.
• One of the part of Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve which includes 3 protected areas that are – Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Originally, this Tiger Reserve originated as a hunting ground for the surrounding royalty.

Geography and Climate

• Similipal comes under a high cerebral malaria-prone zone.
• Summers are hot as temperatures go around 40 °C whereas the winter can be as low as 14 °C .
• The rainfall ranges from moderate to heavy.
• The Meghasani/Tunkiburu is the highest peak in the park.
• Prominent rivers flows are – Budhabalanga, Palpala Bhandan, Kharkai River and Deo.
• 2 prominent waterfalls – Joranda/Jorodah and Barheipani/Barhai.

Flora

• Home to 1,076 Plant species belonging to 102 families.
• Identified about 96 Orchid species.
• Lies in the Eastern Highlands which includes various types of forests that are –
  • Moist deciduous forests,
  • Tropical moist broadleaf forest,
  • Tropical moist deciduous forests,
  • Dry deciduous hill forest and
  • High level Sal forests.
• Grasslands and Savannas provided for grazing and hiding from prey.
• Many Medicinal and Aromatic forests.

Fauna

• Recorded about 42 species of mammals, 242 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles.
• The major mammals include tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, Chausingha, Giant squirrel and Common langur.
• The commonly bird species found are Red junglefowl, hill mynah, peafowl, Alexandrine parakeet and crested serpent eagle.
• Some other animals recorded such as Grey hornbill, Indian pied hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill and Indian trogon.
• The reserve has a good source population of tigers. As per the 2010 country level assessment the estimate was 23 (12-34).

Recently, “Mugger Crocodile Management Programme” has helped the Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) to survive and flourish in and on the banks of Khairi river.

Challenges

The main challenge that this national park faces is Akhand Shikar. As the Similipal National park is subjected to high anthropogenic pressure due to presence of 68 villages within the Reserve (mostly in the buffer) and about 1200 villages in the periphery. The local people have the unique tradition of ritual mass hunting called Akhand Shikar . Control of this practice is a major challenge to the management which requires elaborate strategic planning and mobilization of staff in large number.

Another important issue is Implementing Eco Development programmes in the buffer villages to involve people and build up the support of stake holders against any negative impact on biodiversity.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. WWF India
3. Odisha Tourism
4. NTCA