Black tigers, unique to Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, have become a subject of growing concern among wildlife experts. These tigers, displaying a pseudo-melanistic appearance with broadened and merged stripes, now make up nearly half of the reserve’s tiger population. As per 2023 data, out of 16 tigers in Similipal, 10 exhibit this rare genetic trait. This concentration of the melanistic trait has prompted scientists to investigate the phenomenon more closely. The Genetic Mystery Solved Researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore identified the cause: a mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene. This genetic alteration causes … Continue reading Similipal’s Black Tigers Now 81% of Population—Genetic Crisis Looms