Melanistic Tigress Found Dead in Similipal Tiger Reserve
Authorities completed an NTCA‑protocol post‑mortem and sent samples to OUAT for histopathology to establish the cause of death
Overview
- Forest staff recovered the fresh carcass of a roughly five‑year‑old pseudo‑melanistic tigress in a core high‑altitude valley of Similipal and found no visible external injuries.
- Reserve officials carried out a detailed on‑site investigation and a post‑mortem under National Tiger Conservation Authority procedures.
- Samples from the carcass were forwarded to the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology laboratory in Bhubaneswar for histopathological and related testing.
- The carcass was incinerated following NTCA biosecurity protocol, and the exact cause of death remains undetermined pending laboratory results.
- Similipal is known for rare black or pseudo‑melanistic tigers, so this unexplained loss will factor into local genetic monitoring and prompts close follow‑up by conservation teams.