Rare sight of melanistic tiger cub in Odisha’s Similipal showcases genetic diversity, stuns tourists

A melanistic tiger cub was spotted along with a regular cub by tourists during a jungle safari at the Similipal National Park and Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj on Tuesday.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Odisha shared photos of this rare sighting on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. Captured by a tourist named Anirban Pal, the photo highlighted the unique biodiversity of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, which is the only place in the world where melanistic Royal Bengal Tigers are found naturally.

Rare and stunning!

A mesmerizing sight from #SimilipalTigerReserve! A #melanistictiger cub and a normal cub were spotted together during a #JungleSafari along the South Core route, showcasing the incredible biodiversity of this unique sanctuary.
📸 Captured by: Anirban Pal pic.twitter.com/JPrSGB8tDO

— PCCF WL & CWLW, Odisha (@PCCFWL_Odisha) January 28, 2025

Melanistic tigers, also known as black tigers, are extremely rare and are a result of a genetic mutation that causes their stripes to be much closer together, giving them a distinctive dark appearance.

Further, the sighting once again highlighted the genetic diversity within the tiger population in Similipal, where an estimated 13 of these melanistic tigers remain, as per the last census.

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Earlier on January 12, several people were arrested in Mayurbhanj in connection with the poaching of one melanistic tiger from Similipal. The skin and claws of the same tiger were recovered from those apprehended.

The incident had sent shockwaves among wildlife activists in the country and stringent action against the accused as well as heightened surveillance was called for. Subsequently, the forest department adopted several measures including the use of AI cameras to detect poachers and preserve the unique genetic pool of Similpal.

ALSO READ: Poaching of rare melanistic Royal Bengal Tiger at Similipal: Armed policemen to guard tiger reserve

Meanwhile, such a rare sight has brought immense joy to wildlife enthusiasts and tourists alike with many widely resharing the images on social media.