First of Its Kind Melanistic Tiger Safari to Come Up at Odisha’s  Baripada Soon

Bhubaneswar: A first of its kind melanistic (black) tiger safari will come up in Baripada of the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. On Wednesday, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Susanta Nanda, announced this innovative project with the information that the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) has granted approval. Now the Odisha government is waiting for permission for the project from the Supreme Court.

According to Nanda, this proposed melanistic tiger safari will have four melanistic tigers from Nandankanan Zoo as well as another tiger carrying the melanism gene. He added that no wild melanistic tigers will be part of this safari.

This initiative is expected to increase the number of melanistic tigers.

The PCCF (Wildlife) informed that the preparation for this first of its kind tiger safari is progressing rapidly. While the CZA has given its go-ahead, the final green light from the Supreme Court is awaited, and the project is expected to commence soon.