Melanistic Tigers in Simlipal Tiger Reserve of Odisha

Parveen Kaswan, an officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS), who frequently shares intriguing information about wildlife, recently on his X account, shared the captivating pictures of 'pseudo-melanistic' tigers discovered in Simlipal, Odisha.  Along with the photographs, he  has also shared comprehensive insights into its rarity and origins.

Melanistic Tigers in Simlipal Tiger Reserve

It is worth noting that these melanistic tigers, which possess a rare gene pool resulting in more prominent black stripes than those of the Royal Bengal Tiger, are exclusively found in Odisha. Due to their dense and dark stripe patterns, they are often referred to as 'black tigers'.

Simlipal Tiger Reserve

• Situated in the Eastern Ghats, Simlipal Tiger Reserve is a renowned UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve, National Park, and Tiger Reserve. It is strategically positioned within the Mahanadian coastal region and the Chhotanagpur biotic province, covering a vast expanse of diverse biogeographical realms.

• Simlipal is home to the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes not only the Simlipal Tiger Reserve but also Hadgarh and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. This remarkable reserve showcases a wide range of vegetation, including both moist and dry deciduous forests as well as expansive grasslands.

Melanistic Tigers

• The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha is the sole habitat of melanistic tigers. Within this reserve, the population of melanistic tigers is unique, with 10 out of the 16 tigers in the park exhibiting this rare trait.

• Melanistic tigers, a rare color variant of the Bengal tiger, possess a distinct appearance. Unlike their typical orange counterparts with dark stripes, these tigers exhibit a dark black or nearly black coat with barely visible stripes.

• This unique dark coloration is a result of a genetic condition called melanism, which leads to an excessive development of dark pigmentation (melanin) in their skin and fur. It's important to note that melanistic tigers are not considered a separate subspecies but rather a color morph within the Bengal tiger population.

• Interestingly, a single mutation in the gene Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) is responsible for the melanistic tigers' broader stripes.