Context
Recently, the forest staff in Similipal National Park, Odisha went on strike.
Background:
- The Odisha government deployed armed police personnel at the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) recently to protect the 2,700 square kilometers reserve area that is home to unique melanistic tigers.
About Similipal National Park:
- Location: it is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
- Nomenclature: Similipal derives its name from the abundance of ‘Simul’ (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here.
- It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadagarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.
- Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve: it includes three protected areas i.e. Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary.
- It is a national park and a Tiger Reserve.
- 1956: It was formally designated a tiger reserve.
- 1973: It was brought under Project Tiger.
- Government of India declared it as a biosphere reserve.
- 2009: It is a part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
- The tiger reserve is spread over 2750 sq. km and has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
- The park is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini.
- At least twelve rivers cut across the plain area, all of which drain into the Bay of Bengal.
- These include: Burhabalanga, PalpalaBandan, Salandi, Kahairi and Deo.
- Prominent tribes :Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.
- Vegetation: it is a mix of deciduous with some semi-evergreen forests.
- Sal is the dominant tree species
- Fauna: it is famous for gaurs (Indian bison), causing as well as an orchidarium.
- The STR is the only tiger habitat in the world with melanistic tigers, which have broad black stripes running across their bodies and thicker than those seen on normal tigers.
- Tribes: Two tribes, the ErengaKharias and the Mankirdias, inhabit the reserve’s forests and practice traditional agricultural activities.
FAQs about Similipal National Park
A1: The reason for the strike by the forest staff in Similipal National Park, Odisha, was not mentioned in the provided context. Further information would be required to answer this question.
A2: Similipal National Park is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India.
A3: The name Similipal comes from the abundance of “Simul” (red silk cotton trees) that bloom in the area.
A4: The Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve is a protected area that includes Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. It is known for its elephant population.
A5: Similipal was formally designated as a tiger reserve in 1956.
Read also:- National Parks in Indian
