A very rare black tiger has been reported successfully spotted in India. This species of tiger known as a melanistic tiger can only be found in Odisha, India. Experts claim that there are only seven to eight such tigers living in the state.
Amateur photographer Soumen Bajpayee managed to capture a picture of the tiger that was on the verge of extinction while he was in eastern Odisha.
This species is known as the melanistic tiger because of a defect in the genes which means their thick black lines cover their body more than the orange fur that is usually more visible.
This black tiger is reported to have been found in the forests of India and has been rarely seen before. For those who do not know, India is the habitat of 70 percent of the world’s tiger population.
The melanistic black tiger is only found in the state of Odisha and its number has declined drastically in recent years.
The majority of black tigers can be found at the Simplipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha. The shelter first reported the presence of this melanistic tiger in 2007.
Dr. Bivash Pandav, a wildlife expert, and scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India informed that he believed there were only seven to eight of these black tigers left in India.
According to him, this black tiger is one of the most ‘unique’ in the world because of its genetics. It is believed that the thick black stripes found on their bodies are due to their breed.
The black tiger is understood to be smaller in size than a regular tiger and was first seen in India in 1990.
They live in Odisha because of its vast forests and diverse habitats.
But wildlife experts claim that poaching activities have affected the entire tiger population. They are hunted for their bones, nails, skin, and whiskers.
But the forest department in Odisha stated that the main problem is not from poaching activities but because of the increase in the human population. The acceleration of high urbanization activities has narrowed the space for these tigers to live and breed.
Source: Daily Mail