A young male Royal Bengal tiger has walked approximately 800 kilometres from the central Indian landscape to enter Odisha’s renowned Similipal Tiger Reserve. This event is being referred to as an “astonishing first” by officials.
The tiger, estimated to be 4-5 years old and a prime adult male, was detected using camera traps that are part of the ongoing all-India tiger census.
According to Prakash Chand Gogineni, Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve, the tiger entered the reserve in December-January after beginning its journey from the Chhattisgarh side. It traversed through Sundargarh district, Banai forests, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, and Kamakhyanagar before finally arriving at Similipal. Its movement was captured on CCTV and camera traps set up for tiger estimation.
While the exact origin point remains unconfirmed, officials believe it originated from the central Indian tiger landscape. This is the first documented case of a tiger naturally entering Similipal from outside the state in such a dramatic, long-distance trek.
Gogineni confirmed that the tiger is still residing within the reserve. New camera traps to be deployed in December are expected to provide further updates on its movements and health.
The arrival of this outsider tiger is seen as a positive sign for biodiversity, as it can enhance genetic diversity in the relatively isolated Similipal population. Spanning 2,750 sq km in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, Similipal is known for its unique melanistic (black) tigers and rich ecosystem. However, its somewhat isolated location has raised concerns about inbreeding in the past.
The natural dispersal of tigers from other landscapes, such as this 800-km journey, is viewed as a healthy ecological process that strengthens the meta-population. Wildlife experts consider such long-distance movements as evidence of improving forest connectivity and the tiger’s natural instinct to seek new territories, mates, and prey-rich areas. This incident adds to recent accounts of tiger dispersal in India, where big cats have been recorded covering vast distances in search of suitable habitats.
