Bhubaneswar: In what may come as pleasant news for animal lovers, two tiger cubs of different phenotypes — one normal and another pseudo-melanistic – have been spotted roaming together within the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). The picture of the big cat duo captured on camera trap has gone viral online leaving the netizens in awe.
Taking into X, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Susanta Nanda Thursday wrote, “Normal & pseudo melanistic cubs of T18 moving shoulder to shoulder inside Similipal Tiger Reserve. Like a shadow…” The images taken from a camera trap planted inside STR, show both the tigers taking steps in tandem. While both are seen walking side by side, the deep black stripes of the pseudo-melanistic tiger have captured the attention of the netizens. “It is a very rare sight captured by latest cameras installed at strategic locations, giving enhanced surveillance,” an X user wrote hailing the development, while another commented below the post that these animals must be saved at any cost.
In a similar incident, four pseudo-melanistic tigers were captured by a trap camera in STR, January 7 this year. Following this, PCCF Nanda wrote to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), requesting for female pseudomelanistic tigers to create inbreeding in STR, and boost the rare species’ numbers. Nanda said tigers of such melanistic variety are rare and stay in isolation, hence the need for diversification. Given the total number of melanistic tigers present in India, Union Minister of State for Environment, Ashwini Kumar Choubey had recently told in Rajya Sabha that there are a total of 10, all found in Similipal in Odisha.