Similipal’s Rare Melanistic Tigress Found Dead, Cause Under Probe

A five‑year‑old melanistic tigress was discovered dead in the South Division of Similipal Tiger Reserve under UBK Range on August 6, 2026.

Patrol staff spotted the carcass near Jatani camp around 5 p.m. and alerted senior forest officials.

A special team conducted the post‑mortem on August 7 following National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

Initial examination revealed no external injuries or visible cause of death.

Biological, toxicological, and pathological samples were collected and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health (CWH) at OUAT, Bhubaneswar for detailed analysis.

The tigress’s body was cremated under NTCA protocols in the presence of senior forest staff.

Regional Director Prakash Chand Jogineni confirmed that the final laboratory report will determine the exact cause of death.

This incident has raised concerns among conservationists, as Similipal is one of the few reserves in the world known for its rare melanistic tigers.