Similipal National Park in Odisha loses a rare melanistic tiger, ‘infighting’ suspected as cause of death

By Sudam Patra

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 2: One of the rare melanistic tigers living in Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has died. This was informed by the state Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Sushil Kumar Popli on Monday.

The PCCF said prima facie evidence suggested that the infighting between tigers led to the death of the rare tiger.

“Prima facie, it appears that the death of the tiger occured due to infighting. However, we are waiting for the post-mortem report to arrive at a conclusion,” said the PCCF.

The black or pseudo-melanistic tigers – with distinctive dark stripe pattern on a light background of white or golden – are rare and have only been camera-trapped in Similipal till date.

The reason behind the majestic black stripes of melanistic tigers, according to wildlife experts, is mutation. They are Bengal tigers with a single base mutation in a particular gene.

This mutation causes the tigers’ distinctive black stripes to enlarge and spread into the orange background. Different mutations in this particular gene cause identical changes in the coat colour of other species of cats including cheetahs.

The 2,750 square km Similipal National Park is a treasure house of 1,076 species of plants belonging to 102 families. As many as 96 species of orchids have been identified here. It lies in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion with tropical moist broadleaf forest. Besides, it has tropical moist deciduous forests with dry deciduous hill forest and high level Sal forests.

The grasslands and the savannas provide grazing grounds for the herbivores and hiding places to the carnivores. The forest boasts of innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants, which provide a source of earnings for the tribal people.