Odisha: Similipal tiger population rises from 5 to 35 in 12 years, officials cite conservation efforts

The authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve have attributed the rise in the tiger population from five in 2014 to 35 in 2026 to scientific management practices and community participation as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik called for collective efforts to conserve the big catsIn separate messages on the occasion of International Tiger Day both Majhi and Patnaik urged people to join hands to protect and preserve Royal Bengal Tigers in the stateAddressing a function at Similipal Field Director of Similipal Tiger ReservecumRegional Chief Conservator of Forests Baripada Prakash Chand Gogineni said scientific management and cooperation from local communities had played a key role in increasing the tiger populationA remarkable conservation success has been achieved in Similipal where the tiger population has increased from five tigers in 2014 to 35 tigers in 2026 Gogineni saidHe attributed the achievement to the relentless efforts of frontline forest personnel scientific management practices and the cooperation of local communitiesDeputy Director of Similipal South Wildlife Division Sumit Kumar Kar also praised the dedication of frontline forest staff who continue to protect the reserve under challenging conditionsSimilipal Tiger Reserve spread over around 2750 sq km in Mayurbhanj district comprises hills waterfalls and river systems and is one of the countrys important tiger habitatsDeputy Director of Similipal North Wildlife Division Ramesh Kumar Bishnoi highlighted the sustained conservation efforts undertaken jointly by the Forest Department and local communities for the longterm preservation of the ecosystemConservationist Vivekananda Pattnaik stressed the importance of community participation in mitigating humanwildlife conflict and promoting sustainable livelihoods through communitybased ecotourism in the buffer areas of the reserveIn a post on X Majhi said On International Tiger Day let us reaffirm our commitment to protecting one of natures most magnificent species Odishas rich forests and thriving tiger habitats reflect our shared responsibility to conserve wildlife restore ecosystems and safeguard biodiversity for generations to comePatnaik said the tiger was one of the worlds most iconic animals and a symbol of Indias cultural heritageOdisha is the worlds only home to wild melanistic tigers On InternationalTigerDay let us all join hands to protect the magnificent big cats and their habitats so that they continue to thrive Patnaik said in a social media postIn Similipal the celebration was held in collaboration with the Centre for Similipal Studies Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo MSCB University Takatpur Baripada bringing together academics conservationists students wildlife photographers government officials media representatives and members of the publicThe theme for this years celebration Securing the Future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Heart underscores the vital role of local communities in ensuring the longterm survival of tigers and their ecosystemsA major highlight of this years celebration was the photography competitioncumphoto exhibition on the theme Biodiversity of SimilipalThe event received an overwhelming response with more than 100 wildlife photographers from across India participating and contributing their workThe exhibition showcased over 250 captivating photographs portraying the rich biodiversity scenic landscapes and unique wildlife of Similipal Tiger ReserveNandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar also celebrated International Tiger Day 2026 with a series of educational awareness and conservationoriented programmes aimed at promoting tiger conservation and inspiring public participation in wildlife protectionForest Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia graced the event as the chief guest