Bhubaneswar, Jan 25: The Odisha government will soon set up a melanistic tiger safari, a first-of-its-kind in the world, close to the Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced this at micro-blogging site X on Wednesday. “Glad to announce that #Odisha is setting up an exclusive Melanistic Tiger Safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve in #Mayurbhanj. Tourists and visitors can now have a glimpse of the rare and majestic species found only in Odisha,” he wrote.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has accorded ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up of the melanistic tiger safari on a 200-hectare area, 15 kms away from the Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj, said PCCF Susanta Nanda.
The safari will be established adjoining to NH-18 of Baripada town in the district for which the Forest Department has already earmarked the land. About 100 hectares of the total land will be the display area and the balance area will be utilised for creation of veterinary care facilities including a rescue centre, staff infrastructure and visitors’ amenities among others.
