Tiger Conservation Efforts – Project Tiger, etc.

Similipal Tiger Reserve

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Similipal Tiger Reserve

Why in the News?

The Odisha government has translocated a female tiger from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Similipal Tiger Reserve, the State’s largest, to enhance the genetic diversity of its tiger population.

Similipal Tiger Reserve

Why discuss this?

  • The All Odisha Tiger Estimation (AOTE-2023-24) says a total of 30 tigers were found in Odisha. Similipal has 27 of them.
  • A total of 13 adult tigers (seven females and six males) were found to be pseudo-melanistic in Similipal, and no other wild habitat in the world has pseudo-melanistic tigers.
    • Research indicates that a single mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene causes Similipal’s black tigers to develop distinctive striped patterns.

About Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR):

Details
Location Located in the Mayurbhanj District, Northernmost part of Odisha, surrounded by high plateaus and hills.
Highest Peak Twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini, at 1515 meters above mean sea level.
Designation Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1956; included in the Project Tiger national conservation program in 1973.
UNESCO Recognition Included as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 2009.
Terrain Mostly undulating and hilly, interspersed with open grasslands and wooded areas.
Vegetation A mix of different forest types, predominantly Northern tropical moist deciduous and semi-evergreen patches.
Tribal Communities Inhabited by various tribes including Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia, and Sahara.
Flora Home to 1078 species of plants, including 94 species of orchids, with Sal being the dominant tree species.
Fauna Diverse wildlife including Leopard, Gaur, Elephant, Langur, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Mongoose, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Turtle, Monitor Lizard, Python, Sambar, Pangolin, etc.

 

PYQ:

[2020] Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

(a) Corbett

(b) Ranthambore

(c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

(d) Sunderbans

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