Rare black tiger 'pseudo-melanistic' found in Simlipal, Odisha: Internet amazed

Forest Officer Parveen Kaswan, known for sharing intriguing wildlife facts, recently shared images of 'pseudo-melanistic' tigers found in Simlipal, Odisha, on X (formerly Twitter). These rare tigers, with more prominent black stripes than Royal Bengal Tigers, are exclusive to Odisha and are often referred to as 'black tigers' due to their dense stripe patterns.

Kaswan provided a brief history, mentioning that the first confirmed record dates back to 1993 when a 'black' tigress was shot in self-defense. Official discovery within the reserve occurred in 2007, leading to documented sightings. The post garnered over 147,000 views and 4,000 likes, with users expressing awe and admiration for the captivating images.

Notably, Union Minister Ashiwini Kumar Choubey stated in the Rajya Sabha that there are 10 "black tigers" in India, all found exclusively in Odisha's Similipal. According to the 2022 pan-India tiger estimation, the Similipal Tiger Reserve has 16 tigers, with 10 exhibiting melanism. The post highlights the importance of conserving these unique creatures and marvels at the beauty of nature.