All 10 black tigers of India in Odisha, Union Minister Ashwini said

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that Odisha is home to all 10 black tigers of India. According to the 2022 cycle of All India Tiger Estimation, a total of 16 individuals, including 10 melanistic, were recorded in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha. “A standard operating procedure for active management towards rehabilitation of tigers from source areas at landscape level has been issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

On the basis of genetic structure, Similipal Tiger Reserve has been identified as a unique genetic group for conservation,” the minister said. The Minister further said that to raise awareness on tiger conservation, tiger and other wildlife conservation, habitat management, conservation, eco-development, human resource and infrastructure development, voluntary village rehabilitation, Similipal Tiger Reserve is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Financial assistance is available under. Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH).