Baripada, June 30: Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district will remain closed to visitors starting July 1 due to the onset of the monsoon season, an official announcement confirmed on Sunday.
STR Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni issued a notification stating that the national park's reopening date will be announced at a later time and published in newspapers.
However, the ecotourism complexes located at Jamuani, Gurgudia, Kumari, Barehipani, and Ramatirtha will remain open for tourists, he clarified.
In the fiscal year 2024-25, Similipal Tiger Reserve welcomed a total of 38,483 visitors, including 12 foreign tourists, generating impressive revenue of approximately Rs 4.26 crore. Of this, Rs 1.22 crore was earned from jungle safaris, Rs 2.75 crore from nature camps, and Rs 29 lakh from entry permits, Gogineni shared.
The tiger reserve, covering nearly 2,750 square kilometers, is rich in biodiversity, home to a wide variety of plant species, including 96 types of orchids. It also houses 55 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, and 30 species of reptiles, making it an important conservation area in the region.
