Deriving its lyrical name from simul or silk cotton trees of the region, the Simlipal Tiger Reserve is sited in the Mayurbhanj district of the eastern seaboard state of Odisha (pop.46.8 million). Renowned for blazing red silk cotton blooms and shaded by flame of the forest tree cover, this abundant forest hides its secrets in hilly ranges, grass meadows and plateaus, and thousands of sal, semul and palash trees. Extravagantly praised by famous Oriya poet Radhanath Ray in his well-known paean Usha, salmali saila (‘hills of Simul’) are Odisha’s pride. Spread over 2,750 sq.km including core and buffer areas, this deep and gigantic forest abundant in wildlife, is ripe for exploration. Declared a national park and sanctuary by the state government in 1979, initially an area of 303 sq. km was proposed for the national park. However, the size was gradually increased to 845 sq. km in 1986, and in 1994, Simplipal was designated a biosphere reserve. Moreover to implement the eco-development scheme of the buffer zone, two neighbouring forest ranges of Baripada and Karanjia were amalgamated into the tiger reserve. Today the Simlipal Tiger Reserve encompasses 2,750 sq. km within the larger biosphere reserve covering an area of 4,374 sq. km. Straddling several hill ranges and valleys, this conservation biosphere hosts almost 1,000 species of flowering plants, 94 varieties of orchids and is the natural habitat of the leopard, wild cat, wild boar, civet cat, dhole (wild dog), wolves, bear, bison, sambhar, deer, porcupine, pangolin, flying squirrels, crocodiles and snakes. Gliding over the forest are a large number of avian species including hill mynah, the crescent serpent eagle, jungle fowl, pea fowl and the grey hornbill. Yet, the undisputed king and star attraction of the entire biosphere is the majestic (and elusive) Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT), with the reserve’s herds of wild elephants discharging the role of silent courtiers. According to the latest census conducted by the Simlipal administration the current tiger population of the reserve is 103. The census is conducted using the pug mark methodology with distinctive pug marks evidencing approximately 100 RBTs. This claim is refuted by the Wildlife Institute of India whose independent census conducted by camera trap methodology indicates a tiger population of less than 30 in the reserve. Although the anarchic violence of Maoist insurgents in the region and its dwindling wildlife has reduced the appeal of the reserve in recent years, the thrill and excitement of living in the lap of nature and roughing it out minus the comforts of luxury resorts and convenience of electricity, can only be experienced in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve. Simlipal is also famous for Khairi, the tiger cub rescued and adopted by Indian Forest Service officer and field director the late Saroj Raj Chaudhury, in 1974. The twomonths-old hungry and weak female Khairi was brought to Chaudhury by some Khaira tribals of Simlipal. Together with a sloth bear, hyena, snake and a pet dog, Khairi evolved into a majestic RBT, and mascot of the Project Tiger…
