https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Simlipal_National_ParkSimlipal National Park - Revision history2026-09-07T16:23:38ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simlipal_National_Park&diff=140367&oldid=previmported>BhagyaMani: /* top */ moved im, edited refs + cvt2021-08-30T07:14:37Z<p><span class="autocomment">top: </span> moved im, edited refs + cvt</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}<br />
{{Advert|date=December 2014}}<br />
{{Infobox protected area<br />
| name = Similipal National Park<br />
| alt_name = {{Lang-or|ଶିମିଳିପାଳ ଜାତୀୟ ଉଦ୍ୟାନ}}<br />
| iucn_category = II<br />
| map = Odisha<br />
| map_alt = Location of Similipal National Park<br />
| map_caption = Similipal National Park, Odisha<br />
| map_width = <br />
| photo = Simlipal tiger reserve.jpg<br />
| photo_caption = <br />
| location = [[Odisha]], [[India]]<br />
| nearest_city = [[Baripada]]<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|21|50|N|86|20|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}<br />
| area_km2 = 2750<br />
| established = 1980<br />
| website = {{URL|http://www.similipal.org/}}<br />
| visitation_year = 2005<br />
| governing_body = [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]], [[Government of India]]<br />
|relief=1}}<br />
'''Similipal National Park''' is a [[National parks of India|national park]] and a [[tiger reserve]] in the [[Mayurbhanj district]] in the [[India]]n state of [[Odisha]] covering {{cvt|2750|km2}}. It is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, [[Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|191.06|km2}} and [[Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|272.75|km2}}.<ref>http://www.similipal.org/elephant_reserve.php</ref> Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of [[Bombax ceiba|red silk cotton trees]] growing in the area.<ref name="tour"/><br />
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The park is home to [[Bengal tiger]], [[Asian elephant]], [[gaur]], and [[chausingha]].<ref name=Jena2005>{{Cite magazine |last=Jena |first=M. L. |year=2005 |title=Similipal's Scenic Splendor |magazine=Women's Era |volume=32 |issue=752 |pages=110–112}}</ref><br />
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This protected area is part of the UNESCO [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves]] since 2009.<ref name="sify-br">{{cite news|url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jf1u4rjejdc&title=Three_Indian_sites_added_to_UNESCO_list_of_biosphere_reserves |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028175430/http://www.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jf1u4rjejdc&title=Three_Indian_sites_added_to_UNESCO_list_of_biosphere_reserves |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2014 |title=Three Indian sites added to UNESCO list of biosphere reserves |date=2009 |publisher=[[Sify|Sify News]]|access-date=2009-05-30}}</ref><ref name="ens">{{cite news|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2009/2009-05-27-01.asp |title=UNESCO Designates 22 New Biosphere Reserves |date=2009 |publisher=[[Environment News Service]]|access-date=2009-05-30}}</ref><br />
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==Description==<br />
Simlipal National Park covers an area of {{cvt|2750|km2}}, out of which {{cvt|1194.75|km2}} forms a core area. The average mean elevation is {{cvt|900|m}} with the peaks of Khairiburu at {{cvt|1178|m}} and Meghasani at {{cvt|1158|m}}.{{cn|date=July 2021}}<br />
The [[Barehipani Falls]] are {{cvt|217|m}} high and the [[Joranda Falls]] {{cvt|181|m}}.<ref name="similipal.org">http://www.similipal.org/destinations.php#5</ref><br />
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==History==<br />
[[File:Signboard inside Simlipal National Park.jpg|thumb|Signboard inside the park]]<br />
Simlipal [[Project Elephant#Tiger Reserves|elephant reserve]] originated mainly as a hunting ground for the royalty. It was formally designated a [[tiger reserve]] in 1956 and under [[Project Tiger]] in May 1973. "Mugger Crocodile Scheme" was started in 1979 at [[Ramatirtha]], [[Jashipur]].{{cn|date=August 2021}}<br />
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The [[Government of Odisha]] declared Simlipal as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979 with an area of {{convert|2200|km2|sqmi}}. Later in 1980, the state government proposed {{convert|303|km2|sqmi}} of the sanctuary as a national park. Further in 1986, area of the national park was increased to {{convert|845.70|km2|sqmi}}. [[Government of India]] declared Simlipal as a [[biosphere reserve]] in 1994. [[UNESCO]] added this national park to its list of [[Biosphere Reserve]]s in May 2009.<ref name="sify-br"/><ref name="ens"/> There are 10,000 people living in 61 villages in the forest. That is why Simlipal is yet to be declared a full-fledged park, despite its having the status of one of the 18 [[biosphere]]s of India.<ref name=Jena2005/><br />
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=== Relocation of core villages===<br />
In December 2013, 32 families from the [[Kharia people|Khadia]] tribe belonging to two hamlets of Upper Barhakamuda and Bahaghar were relocated outside the Tiger Reserve as per the guidelines set by National Tiger Conservation Authority. The village of Jamunagarh was relocated in September 2015. Following the relocation, tiger sightings in the core area has gone up. There are two villages, Kabatghai and Bakua, still present in the core area of Similipal. The Forest Department, wildlife NGOs and local administration have initiated talks with these villages on their relocation. However the tribals alleged these relocations to be forced and wished to claim their rights under the Forest Rights Act.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020 |title=Relocation of tribal people living around Similipal Tiger Reserve forceful, claim locals|url=https://india.mongabay.com/2020/03/relocation-of-tribal-people-living-around-similipal-tiger-reserve-forceful-claim-locals/|access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Mongabay-India}}</ref><br />
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==Geography and climate==<br />
The park is in the [[Mayurbhanj district]] in the [[India]]n state of [[Odisha]]. Simlipal Elephant Reserve is an ecosystem complete with forest vegetation (mainly sal trees), fauna and the adjoining [[Ho people|Ho]] / [[Santhal people|Santhal]] tribal settlements.<ref name="tour">{{cite web|url=http://www.Odishatourism.org/wildlife-in-Odisha/simlipal-national-park.html|title=Simlipal National Park|publisher=Department of tourism, Odisha|access-date=12 December 2009}}</ref><br />
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The high hills surround Meghasani/Tunkiburu, the highest peak in the park.<ref name="wwfindia.org">http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/critical_regions/national_parks_tiger_reserves/similipal_tiger_reserve/</ref> At an altitude of {{convert|1165|m|ft}}, followed by Khairiburu at above {{convert|1000|m|ft}} elevation.<ref name=Jena2005/> At least 12 rivers cut across the plain area. The prominent among them are [[Budhabalanga River|Budhabalanga]], Palpala Bhandan, [[Kharkai River]] and [[Deo River|Deo]].<ref name="wwfindia.org"/> This sprawling forest has two prominent waterfalls - [[Joranda|Joranda/Jorodah]] {{convert|181|m|ft}} and [[Barehipani|Barheipani/Barhai]] {{convert|217|m|ft}} <ref name="similipal.org"/><br />
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Summers are hot with temperatures around {{convert|40|C|F|lk=on}} whereas the winter months can be as low as {{convert|14|C|F|lk=on}}. The rainfall ranges from moderate to heavy.<ref>https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/rainfallinformation.php</ref><br />
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Simlipal comes under a high [[Malaria|cerebral malaria]]-prone zone. In cerebral malaria the sequestrated red blood cells can breach the [[blood–brain barrier|blood brain barrier]] possibly leading to coma.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Adams | first1 = S | last2 = Brown | first2 = H | last3 = Turner | first3 = G | year = 2002| title = Breaking down the blood–brain barrier: signaling a path to cerebral malaria? | journal = Trends Parasitol | volume = 18 | issue = 8| pages = 360–6 | doi = 10.1016/S1471-4922(02)02353-X | pmid = 12377286 }}</ref> Cerebral malaria, if not detected, causes death within 15 days of infection.{{cn|date=August 2021}}<br />
Initial symptoms of cerebral malaria are often mistaken as those of acute jaundice. There have been many recorded cases of death due to cerebral malaria after visits to Simlipal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Fact Finding Team on Infant Death in Simlipal Sanctuary|url=http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/simlipal07fact-finding-report.pdf}}</ref> Therefore, it is extremely important for tourists to be aware of the threats posed by cerebral malaria before planning a visit to Simlipal.{{cn|date=August 2021}}<br />
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In 2021, large fires broke out in the Simlipal National Park, and continued to burn for over two weeks before they were brought under control.<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2021-03-12|title=Simlipal park fire under control, rainfall helps|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/simlipal-park-fire-under-control-rainfall-helps/article34051180.ece|access-date=2021-03-16|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The [[2021 Simlipal forest fires]] resulted in widespread environmental damage, and caused an exodus of fauna from the park into nearby human habitations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Suffian|first=Mohammad|date=9 March 2021|title=Habitat burnt in Simlipal forest fire, wild animals enter human areas in Odisha|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/habitat-burnt-in-simlipal-forest-fire-wild-animals-enter-human-areas-in-odisha-1777385-2021-03-09|access-date=2021-03-16|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Wildlife==<br />
=== Flora ===<br />
The park is a treasure house of 1076 species of plants belonging to 102 families. 96 species of [[orchids]] have been identified here.<ref name=Jena2005/> It lies in the [[Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests]] [[ecoregion]], with [[tropical moist broadleaf forest]] and [[tropical moist deciduous forests]] with dry deciduous hill forest and high level [[Sal tree|Sal forests]].<ref name="tour"/> The [[grasslands]] and the [[savannas]] provide grazing grounds for the herbivores and hiding place to the carnivores. The forest boasts of innumerable [[medicinal plants|medicinal]] and aromatic plants, which provide a source of earnings for the tribal people. [[Eucalyptus]], planted by the [[United Kingdom|British]] during the 1900s, are found.<ref name=Jena2005/><br />
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=== Fauna ===<br />
A total of 42 species of mammals, 242 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles have been recorded in Simlipal National Park.<ref name=Jena2005/> The major mammals include [[tiger]], [[leopard]], [[Asian elephant]], [[Sambar deer|sambar]], [[barking deer]], [[gaur]], [[jungle cat]], [[wild boar]], [[chausingha]] (four horned [[antelope]]), [[giant squirrel]] and [[common langur]]. 231 species of birds nest in these forests. [[Red junglefowl]], [[hill mynah]], [[peafowl]], [[Alexandrine parakeet]], [[crested serpent eagle]] are the commonly found birds. The [[Indian grey hornbill|grey hornbill]], [[Great hornbill|Indian pied hornbill]], [[Malabar pied hornbill]] and [[Malabar trogon|Indian trogon]] are also found in the reserve. {{citation needed|date=August 2012}}<br />
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The park has a sizeable population of reptiles, which includes snakes and turtles. The "Mugger Crocodile Management Programme" has helped the [[Mugger crocodile]] (''Crocodylus palustris'') to survive and flourish on the banks of Khairi river.<ref name="tour"/><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Simlipal National Park}}<br />
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}<br />
<br />
{{Protected areas of Odisha}}<br />
{{Eastern Ghats}}<br />
{{National Parks of India}}<br />
{{Tiger Reserves Of India}}<br />
<br />
[[Category: National parks in Odisha]]<br />
[[Category: Tiger reserves of India]]<br />
[[Category: Eastern Ghats]]<br />
[[Category: Biosphere reserves of India]]<br />
[[Category:Mayurbhanj district]]<br />
[[Category: Chota Nagpur dry deciduous forests]]<br />
[[Category: Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests]]<br />
[[Category: Protected areas established in 1980]]<br />
[[Category:1980 establishments in Orissa]]</div>imported>BhagyaMani