Similipal National Park

The Similipal National Park which is spread over 2750 sq km is a part of the central Indian landscape. Not only a tiger reserve, but Similipal is also a national park, a wildlife sanctuary, a biosphere reserve and a part of the Mayurbhan Elephant Reserve. Similipal derives its name from the abundance of semul or red silk cotton trees that flourish prominently in its forests.

The vast expanses of Similipal’s forest are a unique composition of semi-evergreen, high-altitude sal, grassland, and savanna. It is home to more than 1253 species of flowering plants, 99 species of non-flowering plants, 21 species of amphibians, 62 species of reptiles, 361 species of birds, 55 species of animals, and many species of flora and fauna. Located in the northern part of the identified state, Similipal Tiger Reserve is also blessed with green valleys dotted with Barihani, Zoraida, and Uski, Sitakund-Deokund-Bhimkand waterfalls, and sylvan sal forests.

It contains 94 species of orchids, many of them endemic and extinct, and 72 Himalayan species. There are many species of rare, extinct, endangered, and vulnerable plants and animals Mahseer, hornbill, chozinga, mouse deer, giant squirrel, ruddy mongoose, flying squirrel, mugger, crocodile, and rufous-tailed hare are examples of this unique biodiversity. Similipal is famous for elephants and tigers It is the only tiger reserve in the country to boast of melanistic tigers It is home to only 25% elephants and 75% tigers in Odisha.

Other wildlife in Similipal is bison, sambar, chital, porcupine, pangolin, pythons, wild boar, leopard, barking deer, jungle cat, giant squirrel, common tongue, etc. Apart from hornbills and trogons, parakeets, various eagles, etc, The park has a large population of reptiles including snakes, crocodiles, and turtles