Recently two melanistic tiger cubs were born to a white tigress and a common tiger. Melanistic means presence of black or dark brown pigments in the hair, skin and eye of man or animal. The melanistic tiger is not new to Odisha.
There are ample of evidences of presence of black tigers and panthers in Odisha forests, especially in the Similipal park. Although no live or dead tiger of melanistic nature was ever captured from Odisha forests, but there were reports of the melanistic types having been sighted by the tribals of Similipal forests. The writer served long years in the Similipal forests and saw black striped and common tigers. But no white tiger was seen anywhere in Similipal or Satikoshia forests. The white and black spotted tigers are originally noticed from different ecological systems. The white tiger is originally found in Rewa forests of ex- Rewa State now in Chhatisgarh, while the black-striped tiger is sighted in Similipal tiger reserve. The writer had encountered a very big black panther in Similipal forests while proceeding to Karanjia town through Anandpur-Thakurmunda Road during 1982. It was a winter night.
The ecological systems both of Rewa forests and Similipal forests are quite different. The ecological systems always have enormous impact on the biological characters of animals, whether they are carnivores or herbivores. The varying colours and sheds of animals always act as protective measure for them. If we compare the crop composition of Rewa forests with Similipal forests, we’ll find many contrasts. Rewa forests have dry deciduous vegetation and the ground flora is very thin and transparent. The movement of animals can be visible from a distant place. The chance of camouflaging is bleak. The summer is a period when entire forest becomes leafless and the blinding of vision is absolutely zero. The melanistic animals can be very much visible in such a condition. The animals of prey would not be able to hide them from their predators. So the common tiger in the Rewa forests is white, which can camouflage it within the dry leaves and bushes. The tiger is a cunning animal. It adjusts itself to the prevailing ecological conditions of the surroundings. Only because of this, the melanistic tigers probably do not prefer to stay in the open deciduous forests. But the ecological conditions of Similipal forests are quite different. The forests contain semi- evergreen to complete evergreen dense vegetations. The physiography and the topography of Similipal are also opposite to the Rewa forests. The melanistic tiger is better protected in the prevailing ecological conditions of Similipal. The food habits of the carnivores also depend heavily on the prevailing ecological conditions of the habitat.
The last ruler of the princely State of Rewa captured a white tiger cub in 1951. It was a male tiger and was reared in captivity with a female cub of normal coloured tiger. The mating of both the tigers was allowed within the captivity. The Maharaja of Rewa multiplied white tigers in captivity. Subsequently a pair of white tiger cubs born in 1962 was sold to Bristol zoo in london in June 1963. Similarly two male white cubs born in 1960 were sold to Calcutta Zoo. Rewa forest is very close to Nuapara district of Odisha, where Sunabeda sanctuary is located. The Nandankanan authorities should multiply the melanistic tigers in captivity for mutational study as the habitat is ideal for growth of such tigers.
July 29 is observed as the Tiger Day, which emphasizes on protection and conservation of tigers at a global scale. The protection and conservation of tigers is not possible unless the habitats of tigers are secured and human interference minimized. Already the population of tigers is receding fast. The census figures of tiger for the year 2006 and 2014 paint an alarming picture. As per the two censuses, Odisha had 45 and 28 tigers in the two years respectively, while Andhra Pradesh had 95 and 65, Karnataka 290 and 406, Kerala 136 (only in 2014), Tamil Nadu 76 and 229 and Maharashtra had 103 and 190 tigers respectively.
While the tiger populations of southern States of India are increasing, in northern and eastern States, they are sharply falling. The industrial threats to tiger habitats are the main cause of the receding of tiger population. The old glory of the Surndaravans as a tiger hub is also fast falling due to increased human interference.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)