Similipal Biosphere Reserve

Location and Extent

Similipal Biosphere Reserve is one of the most significant protected areas in India, located in the Mayurbhanj district of northern Odisha. It covers a core area of approximately 845 square kilometres (the Similipal Tiger Reserve and National Park), surrounded by a buffer zone of about 2,129 square kilometres, and a transition zone of about 2,595 square kilometres, making a total area of 5,569 square kilometres. The reserve lies between latitudes 20°17’ N and 22°34’ N and longitudes 85°40’ E and 87°10’ E. The terrain is dominated by a massive dome-shaped plateau that rises to about 1,168 metres at Meghasani, the highest peak, with other prominent peaks including Khairiburu (1,178 metres). Deep gorges, perennial streams, and waterfalls, including the spectacular Barehipani (399 metres) and Joranda (150 metres) falls, dissect the plateau. Similipal was designated a tiger reserve in 1956, a national park in 1979, a wildlife sanctuary in 1979, and a biosphere reserve in 1994. It was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2009.

Biodiversity and Flora

Similipal is a repository of extraordinary biodiversity, supporting over 1,076 species of vascular plants, 96 species of orchids, 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of amphibians, and 38 species of fish. The vegetation is predominantly tropical moist deciduous forest with sal as the dominant species, but the wetter valleys harbour semi-evergreen patches of exceptional richness. The famous ‘Valley of Orchids’ — the Bakua valley — is home to more than 90 of Similipal’s orchid species. Grasslands, locally known as ‘Dahis’, are maintained by deliberate annual burning and support populations of herbivores. The floral diversity includes several species of medicinal importance, many known only to the indigenous tribal communities through generations of traditional knowledge.

The forest types follow an altitudinal gradient: sal forests dominate the lower and middle slopes, mixed deciduous forests occupy the drier aspects, and semi-evergreen pockets are found in the sheltered valleys and along perennial streams. At the highest elevations near Meghasani and Khairiburu, the vegetation takes on a more stunted, montane character with species of Rhododendron, Vaccinium, and stunted Syzygium. The plateau grasslands, maintained partly by edaphic conditions and partly by fire, form a unique ecosystem within the reserve. The reserve serves as a critical watershed for several Odisha rivers, including the Budhabalanga, Kharkai (a tributary of the Subarnarekha), and the East Deo, which feeds the Baitarani.

Fauna

Similipal is renowned for two spectacular wildlife phenomena: it is one of the very few places in the world where melanistic (pseudo-melanistic) tigers are found in the wild, and it hosts a significant population of Asiatic elephants. The reserve supports an estimated 20-25 tigers (as per recent census), along with leopards, Indian bison (gaur), sambar, chital, barking deer, four-horned antelope, and wild boar. The elephant population in the larger Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, of which Similipal is the core, numbers over 300. Reptilian fauna includes the king cobra, Indian rock python, and monitor lizard. The mugger crocodile has been successfully reintroduced into the rivers of Similipal through a conservation programme. The avian diversity is equally impressive, with the red junglefowl, peafowl, hill myna, hornbills, and various raptors representing the resident bird community, supplemented by numerous winter migrants.

Tribal Communities and Human Dimension

Similipal and its surrounding areas are home to several tribal communities, including the Erenga Kharias, Mankirdias, Ho, Santhal, Munda, and Bhumij. Some communities, particularly the Erenga Kharias and Mankirdias, are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). These communities have traditionally depended on the forest for food, medicine, fuel, housing materials, and cultural sustenance. Their knowledge of the forest’s flora and fauna is encyclopaedic and has been critical to scientific documentation of the reserve’s biodiversity. The creation of the core area of the national park in 1980 involved the relocation of several villages, a process that was contested and traumatic for the displaced communities. The biosphere reserve designation, with its emphasis on the co-existence of conservation and sustainable development, acknowledges the need to find solutions that protect both ecological integrity and the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples. Eco-development committees (EDCs) involving local communities have been formed to manage buffer zone resources and share tourism revenues.

Conservation Challenges

Despite its protected status, Similipal faces several conservation challenges. Poaching, particularly of tigers, elephants, and deer, has been a persistent problem, facilitated by the extensive and often porous boundary. Forest fires, mostly deliberately set by villagers to promote fresh grass for cattle grazing or to collect mahua flowers, rage through the reserve annually, damaging regeneration and wildlife habitat. Human-wildlife conflict, especially crop-raiding by elephants, is a constant source of tension between the Forest Department and surrounding communities. The presence of Maoist insurgents in and around the reserve has complicated conservation management by restricting staff movement in certain seasons and areas. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of strict protection in the core, community engagement in the buffer, intelligence-led anti-poaching operations, and livelihood support to reduce dependency on forest resources.