Odisha houses 40 Royal Bengal Tigers: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has at least 40 Royal Bengal Tigers (RBT) and 318 leopards in different tiger reserves and forests.

This was informed by Forest and Environment minister B K Arukha while replying a written question in the assembly.

While highest number of 26 RBTs live in Similipal Tiger Reserve, remaining 14 tigers are located in six other places, he said.

Quoting the 2016 tiger and leopard census, the minister said the number of male RBTs in the state was 13 while 24 female and 3 cubs were located in the state.

Of the 26 RBTs in Similipal, nine are males, 14 females and three cubs. All these animals are located in core area of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, he said.

Following Similipal Tiger Reserve, four RBTs comprising one male and three females are found in Sunabeda sanctuary while three each RBTs have been found in Karanjia and Keonjhar wild life divisions, the minister said.

While two RBTs (one male and one female) are located at Satkosia wild life sanctuary, one each RBT live in Khariar and Sundergarh forests, he said.

However, the report of National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) estimation done in 2014, claimed that there were 28 big cats in Odisha.

The minister claimed that the state government has taken several measures to maintain tiger habitation in different places.