Bhubaneswar: The tiger population at Similipal reserve has risen from just five in 2014 to 35 in 2026, field director Prakash Gogineni said, while highlighting their conservation success on the ocassion of International Tiger Day on Wednesday.He credited frontline forest personnel, scientific management practices and the cooperation of local communities for this achievement.Similipal reserve celebrated the International Tiger Day with a series of awareness programmes, organised in collaboration with Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo (MSCB) University.The event, conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Similipal Studies of the MSCB University, brought together academicians, conservationists, students, wildlife photographers and govt officials to highlight the importance of the conservation of India’s national animal.This year’s theme, ‘Securing the Future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Heart’, emphasised the crucial role of local communities in safeguarding tiger habitats and ecosystems. A major attraction was a photography competition-cum-exhibition on ‘Biodiversity of Similipal’. The contest drew participation from over 100 wildlife photographers nationwide, with more than 250 striking images, capturing Similipal’s rich biodiversity, scenic landscapes and unique wildlife, offering visitors a glimpse into the reserve’s ecological wealth.MSCB University vice-chancellor Mahendra Mohanty stressed that tiger conservation is inseparable from protecting vast forest landscapes and countless species. He assured full institutional support for collaborative research, documentation and conservation initiatives with Similipal Tiger Reserve.
