Odisha: Similipal Tiger Reserve burning for over a week now

Wildfires have scattered across numerous jungle areas in Odisha—mainly the Similipal Reserve. Regardless, as per the Odisha state government’s statement, the fire crisis has been taken under control. As per the local media documents, it has been over 10 days since the fire blew up in the tiger reserve placed in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. In May 200, this national reserve was put on the UNESCO’s list of Biosphere Reserve.

As of March 5, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) has listed 233 vigorous massive jungle fire incidents within Odisha. And reportedly, over 40 fire incidents had been noted in Karanjia, Baripada, and Rairangpur divisions of the Mayurbhanj district. Meanwhile, the fire has been unraveling from one portion to another and has ruined around eight out of the 21 ranges of the Similipal forest division till now. If statements are to go by, the fire has even spread to Khandachira, Anandapur, and Balinal hills that are under Podadiha Forest Range, located in the southern part of the reserve. As per a local, “The forest is burning and we are vulnerable. Numerous medicinal plants have been diminished to ashes. Many wildlife species, involving endangered and rare ones, have deceased in the wildfire.”

So far, no fire-related casualties have been announced from the said impacted regions, although the wildfires appear to have wreaked devastation in over 30 reserve forests within the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary. According to authorities, approximately one-third of the reserve region has been eradicated by the fire.