Rare Black Tiger Skin Seized in Mayurbhanj, 9 Arrested; Key Accused Absconding

Baripada: In a major wildlife crackdown, the Baripada Forest Division in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has seized the skin of a rare melanistic tiger, commonly known as the “black tiger,” and arrested nine individuals linked to poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Forest officials said the main आरोपी in the case is still absconding, and efforts have been intensified to trace and apprehend him, with authorities suspecting the involvement of a larger poaching network.

The seized skin is believed to belong to a pseudo-melanistic tiger, a rare genetic variant found exclusively in the Similipal Tiger Reserve. These tigers are known for their unusually thick black stripes that nearly obscure their orange coat, making them one of the rarest tiger variants in the world. Officials estimate that only around a dozen such tigers remain in the wild.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the animal may have been killed within the past month, raising serious concerns among conservationists and wildlife authorities over the loss of such a critically rare specimen.

The incident has once again brought the spotlight on security measures at Similipal Tiger Reserve. Despite having a protection budget exceeding ₹100 crore and the deployment of advanced surveillance systems, including AI-enabled cameras, poachers managed to infiltrate the reserve, kill the animal, and attempt to traffic its skin.

Notably, this marks the second instance in the past 14 months where a melanistic tiger skin has been seized in the region, prompting fresh concerns over the effectiveness of existing anti-poaching measures.

Forest officials have acknowledged the seriousness of the breach and indicated that stricter enforcement and enhanced monitoring will be implemented to curb poaching activities and safeguard the remaining population of these rare tigers.