Tigers in Orissa are under threat. Their survival now depends on a variety of factors, the removal of which could help them see another day. A few decades ago the distribution of tigers in the forests of Orissa was wide and almost most districts of the State harboured them. But since the early 1980s many forest areas have started feeling the pressure of deforestation, and poaching.
Wild Orissa believes that inclusion under the Project Tiger scheme will be an extra emphasis on tiger conservation by way of receipt of more funds from the Centre, receipt of more equipments such as vehicles, wireless sets, and arms from external agencies, reorienting the priorities of the forest personnel from forest protection to specific tiger conservation and wildlife conservation in general.
Tiger Reserve originated primarily as a hunting ground for the royalty. It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 under Project Tiger in May 1972. It was elevated to a national park status in 1979. Located in the Mayurbhanj district of India, coastal state of Orissa, Simlipal Tiger Reserve is an ecosystem complete with forest vegetation (mainly sal trees), fauna and the adjoining Santhal tribal settlements. High plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the Mangesheri, surround the forest. At least 12 rivers cut across the plain area. The prominent among them are Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Kahairi and Deo. This sprawling forest also has many waterfalls that are a perpetual attraction to the tourist. It has withstood two cyclones. in 1982 and 1999. without any irrevocable damages and continues to enchant visitors.
A tiger’s coat displays a combination of three colours-white, tawny, and black. “A wholly white tiger, with the stripe pattern visible ony uder reflected light, like the pattern of a white tabby cat, was exhibited in the Exeter Change Menagerie in the early part of the 19th century and described by Hamilton-Smith” (Pocock, 1939: 202). Sagar and Singh (1989) reported a “tiger without stripes” from Similipal Tiger Reserve, and cited similar information from another location in Similipal and one from Chitrakonda of Korput in Orissa.
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