Similipal Wildlife Guide — Odisha
Similipal is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Odisha known for a striking natural rarity — a population of melanistic (black) tigers, found almost nowhere else in the wild. Dense sal forest, the Barehipani and Joranda waterfalls, and real distance from the usual tourist circuit make it a different kind of reserve. Home to Tiger, Leopard, Asian Elephant, Mugger Crocodile, Indian Giant Squirrel. Best time to visit: Nov – Jun. See recent sightings, gate guides, packing tips and the full species checklist for Similipal on Vanyamitra.
Giant Golden Orbweaver — recorded at Similipal · Photo via iNaturalist, © budak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by budak.
Explore India's National Parks
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- Kaziranga National Park, Assam — One-horned Rhinoceros, Wild Buffalo, Swamp Deer
- Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand — Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Gharial
- Bandipur National Park, Karnataka — Tiger, Elephant, Gaur
- Periyar National Park, Kerala — Asian Elephant, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque
- Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan — Sarus Crane, Painted Stork, 350+ bird species
- Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka — Asian Elephant, Leopard, Dhole
- Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh — Bengal Tiger, Barasingha, Wild Dog
- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra — Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Gaur
- Gir National Park, Gujarat — Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Chital
- Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu — Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard
- Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh — Bengal Tiger, Dhole, Spotted Deer
- Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh — Tiger, Leopard, Giant Flying Squirrel
- Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal — Royal Bengal Tiger, Saltwater Crocodile
- Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand — Himalayan Blue Poppy, Snow Leopard, Monal
- Bhitarkanika, Odisha — Saltwater Crocodile, Olive Ridley Turtle
Curated Species Collections
- Snakes of the Western Ghats — King Cobra, Russell's Viper, Malabar Pit Viper
- Big Cats of India — Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion
- Birds of the Himalayas — Himalayan Monal, Lammergeier, Blood Pheasant
- Small Wild Cats of India — Fishing Cat, Rusty-spotted Cat, Caracal, Jungle Cat
- Owls of India — Indian Eagle-Owl, Spotted Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, Barn Owl
- Primates of India — Hanuman Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Slender Loris, Hoolock Gibbon
- Kingfishers of India — Common, White-throated, Stork-billed, Pied Kingfisher
- Eagles, Hawks & Kites of India — Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Shikra
- Woodpeckers of India — Black-rumped Flameback, Greater Flameback, Rufous Woodpecker
- Deer of India — Chital, Sambar, Barasingha, Hog Deer, Indian Muntjac
- Bears of India — Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Sun Bear
- Turtles & Tortoises of India — Indian Star Tortoise, Flapshell Turtle, Olive Ridley
- Frogs of the Western Ghats — Purple Frog, Malabar Gliding Frog, night frogs
- Butterflies of the Western Ghats — Southern Birdwing, Blue Mormon, Malabar Banded Peacock
- Snakes of India — King Cobra, Spectacled Cobra, Russell's Viper, Common Krait
- Ducks & Geese of India — Bar-headed Goose, Northern Pintail, Spot-billed Duck
- Parrots & Parakeets of India — Rose-ringed, Alexandrine, Plum-headed, Malabar Parakeet
- Pigeons & Doves of India — Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Spotted Dove
- Bats of India — Indian Flying Fox, fruit bats, insectivorous bats
- Squirrels of India — Indian Palm Squirrel, Indian Giant Squirrel, flying squirrels
- Wild Dogs, Foxes & Jackals of India — Dhole, Indian Fox, Golden Jackal, Indian Wolf
- Mongooses of India — Indian Grey Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose
- Crocodiles & Gharials of India — Gharial, Mugger, Saltwater Crocodile
- Geckos of India — house geckos, golden geckos, rock geckos and 150+ species
- Dragonflies & Damselflies of India — Globe Skimmer and 400+ species
- Wild Cattle & Antelope of India — Gaur, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Chinkara, Himalayan Tahr
- Sunbirds of India — Purple Sunbird, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird
- Cuckoos of India — Asian Koel, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Greater Coucal
- Bee-eaters of India — Green, Blue-tailed, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
- Hornbills of India — Great Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Grey Hornbill
- Pheasants & Peafowl of India — Indian Peafowl, Red Junglefowl, Himalayan Monal
- Herons & Egrets of India — Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron
- Storks of India — Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork, Asian Openbill, Greater Adjutant
- Birds of Kerala — Malabar Trogon, Great Hornbill, Sri Lanka Frogmouth
- Birds of Goa — flamingos, kingfishers, hornbills and 400+ species
- Birds of Assam — Bengal Florican, White-winged Duck, hornbills
- Birds of Sikkim — Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan
- Mammals of Rajasthan — Bengal Tiger, Chinkara, Blackbuck, desert fox
Browse all wildlife collections of India →
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Vanyamitra means "friend of the forest" in Sanskrit — vanya (wild) + mitra (friend). A free field guide to everything wild in India: 42,000+ species, 20 national parks, real sightings from iNaturalist's research community.
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