Key Highlights
- Similipal has been elevated to India’s 107th national park, becoming Odisha’s second after Bhitarkanika.
- The park covers 845.70 sq km across eleven distinct ranges, making it the state’s largest protected area.
- Designation unlocks stricter protection, increased funding, and heightened national and international visibility.
- Six villages were cleared for the core zone; four were relocated, while Bakua remains excluded due to ongoing habitation.
- Similipal’s biodiversity includes 55 mammal species, 361 birds, 62 reptiles, and 21 amphibians, and it is a key tiger reserve.
Detailed Insights
Similipal’s journey to national‑park status began with a 1980 proposal, followed by a 1973 wildlife sanctuary notification and a 2007 tiger‑habitat declaration. The Odisha government’s April 24, 2025 notification formalises decades of conservation work, aligning the park with the “Viksit Odisha” vision. The 845.70 sq km area is split into Similipal South and North divisions, encompassing ranges such as Pithabata North, Nawana, Jenabil, and Upper Barahkamuda. The park’s rich fauna—55 mammals, 361 birds, 62 reptiles, 21 amphibians—underscores its ecological significance. The designation also brings stronger legal safeguards, potential funding boosts, and a platform for community engagement, especially for tribal groups previously residing in the core zone.
Key Concepts
- National Park – A protected area with the highest level of conservation status, prohibiting human habitation and resource extraction.
- Tiger Reserve – A designated zone within a national park aimed at safeguarding tiger populations and their habitat.
- Habitat Conservation – Strategies that preserve the natural environment to support biodiversity and ecological processes.
- Community Relocation – The process of moving human settlements from protected zones to ensure ecological integrity.
- Ecological Significance – The importance of an area in maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem services, and species survival.