Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government officially designated Similipal as a national park on Thursday, invoking its powers under Section 35(4) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department on Thursday issued a notification in this regard.
The state complied with Sections 19 to 26-A of the Act, except for Section 24(2)(c), ensuring all procedures were meticulously followed. All land claims within the designated area have been settled, with land rights now fully vested in the state government. The national park spans 845.7 square kilometers, primarily within the Similipal south division, and is effective immediately upon publication of the notification in the Odisha Gazette.
Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), Odisha’s largest tiger habitat, covers 2,306.61 square kilometers. To qualify as a national park, an area must be free from human habitation and domestic animal movement, as per central government criteria.
Accordingly, 845.7 square kilometers of STR were proposed for national park status, distinct from the 1,194.75 square kilometers already notified as core critical tiger habitat in 2007. The delay in the national park designation was due to human settlements in the core area, now resolved.
Renowned for its rich biodiversity, Similipal is home to endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger and Asian elephant.
The national park status is expected to enhance protection measures, strengthening conservation efforts across the Eastern Ghats and ensuring the preservation of this ecological treasure for future generations.
Similipal is the second national park in State after Bhitarkanika National Park
