History

The Government have dedicated the vast Similipal forest, to fulfil the commitment of protection and conservation of biodiversity and wildlife. It was declared as a Reserve Forest by the State Government in the year 1959 after the merger of erstwhile Mayurbhanj State with the Union of India. By the reason of ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological and zoological associations and importance, the State Government of Odisha declared its intention to declare Similipal as a National Park in the year 1980. Similipal was established as Similipal Biosphere Reserve under the Man & the Biosphere programme of the UNESCO, by the Govt. of India in the year 1994. In the Year 2001, Mayurbhanj (Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh) Elephant Reserve was set up by the State Govt. of Odisha with its core are corresponding to the core area of Similipal Sanctuary. In the Year 2007, the State Government of Odisha notified specified Forest Blocks of Similipal Forest Reserve as Similipal Tiger Reserve. Further in the year 2009, the State Government of Odisha declared the Similipal Reserve Forest as Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary.