Bhubaneswar, Jan 15: In a significant breakthrough, officials from the Forest Department have seized the skin of a rare melanistic tiger and arrested four poachers in Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
On the night of January 12, the special enforcement wing of the Similipal South Wildlife Division conducted a raid in the Dukura range, apprehending the suspects while they were attempting to negotiate the sale of the black tiger’s skin. The arrested individuals—Ajambar Naik, Pitambar Naik, Rama Naik, and Bairam Murmu—are residents of Tentula and Balighat villages, falling under Udala police jurisdiction. Following their arrest, they were presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Baripada on January 13 and were subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
This operation was a collaborative effort involving the Similipal South Wildlife Division and the State-level Joint Task Force (JTF). Prior arrests in Balasore included the recovery of tiger claws, and information obtained during interrogations led to this latest seizure.
The poaching of the melanistic tiger is believed to have occurred in November 2024. Investigations are ongoing, with search operations underway to locate additional suspects involved in this serious wildlife crime. Wildlife officials aim to determine the source of the tiger once the remaining accused are apprehended.
Four poachers arrested in Similipal for melanistic tiger skin seizure
