Rare melanistic tiger with distinctive dark stripe patterns caught on camera trap in Odisha

IFS officer Dr Samrat Gowda said the population of tigers in Similipal has doubled over the past four years.

IFS officer Ramesh Pandey shared the video of the majestic black tiger caught on camera trap at Similipal Tiger Reserve.

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The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district is attracting widespread attention for its melanistic tiger population. Melanistic tigers are rare as they have distinctive dark stripe patterns on their skin because of genetic mutation.

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Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Ramesh Pandey shared the video of the majestic black tiger caught on camera trap at Similipal Tiger Reserve. “Beautiful camera trap video of a melanistic tiger in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, the only place where we see blackish tigers because of genetic mutations in the population,” he wrote.

Watch the video below:

Beautiful camera trap video of a melanistic tiger in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, the only place where we see blackish tigers because of genetic mutations in the population. pic.twitter.com/KXqvjX8tvs

— Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) August 1, 2023

The clip was originally shared by IFS officer Dr Samrat Gowda who informed that the population of tigers in Similipal has doubled over the past four years.

“Hardwork, commitment, dedication and supreme sacrifice of our staff is visible in results… Similipal tiger numbers have doubled compared to 2018 census.. wish you all a very happy world ranger day,” he wrote on July 31.

Hardwork, commitment, dedication and supreme sacrifice of our staff is visible in results… Similipal tiger numbers have doubled compared to 2018 census.. wish you all a very happy world ranger day. pic.twitter.com/XFUrykootk

— Dr.Samrat Gowda IFS (@IfsSamrat) July 31, 2023

When a user asked Pandey as to what causes the mutation, he replied, “Mutation is a phenomenon which happens in DNAs of organisms. It’s kind of spelling mistake what geneticists say to explain in simpler words.”

Mutation is a phenomenon which happens in DNAs of organisms. It’s kind of spelling mistake what geneticists say to explain in simpler words.

— Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) August 1, 2023

Not only one or two tigers, but there is a significant population of melanistic tigers in Similipal, Pandey informed in another tweet.

“There are not only one or two melanistic tigers in Similipal. A substantial population is melanistic,” he wrote while replying to a comment.

There are not only one or two melanistic tigers in Similipal. A substantial population is melanistic.

— Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) August 1, 2023

“Such a mutation also happens among panthers which are fully black and without any visible spots. There are quite a few in the forests of Karnataka,” another person said.