A rare five-year-old melanistic tigress has been found dead inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve, raising concern among wildlife authorities. The tigress was discovered in the South Division’s UBK Range, near Jatani camp, on August 6.

According to the Forest Department, patrol staff found the carcass at around 5 pm, following which senior officials, including the Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve, reached the site and launched an investigation.

A special team carried out the post-mortem examination on August 7 in accordance with protocols prescribed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Preliminary examination reportedly found no external injuries or obvious cause of death.

To determine what caused the tigress’s death, experts collected biological, toxicological and pathological samples. The samples have been sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health (CWH) at OUAT, Bhubaneswar, for detailed laboratory analysis.

The tigress’s body was subsequently cremated following strict NTCA protocols, in the presence of the Similipal Field Director and senior Forest Department officials. Authorities said the final laboratory findings will establish the precise cause of death.

A significant loss for Similipal

Similipal is particularly important for the conservation of melanistic, or so-called black, tigers, a rare colour variant characterised by unusually broad and closely spaced dark stripes. The reserve is recognised as one of the few places where these distinctive tigers occur in the wild.

The death therefore adds urgency to the ongoing scientific monitoring of Similipal’s tiger population. The investigation and laboratory analysis will be crucial in determining whether the tigress died from natural causes, disease, poisoning or another factor.

The exact cause of death remains unknown until the laboratory report is received.