Author in front of the entrance to Simlipal Tiger Reserve( (2310 feet)
In December'2004, I undertook an important journey into the Similipal forests of eastern Orissa. Similipal forests are located in Mayurbhanj district which borders the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand. The objectives of my visit were to study the indigenous healing techniques and shamanic rites of the most primitive tribes of Orissa, namely the Hill Khadias, Hill Mankadias and Kohls.
These tribals live inside the perimeter of the approximately 2400 sq. km. Similipal tiger reserve. The unique circumstances which characterize these residents of Similipal forests are as follows:
This tiger reserve is a malaria endemic zone. Even short term visitors like tourists are advised to take chloroquine tablets as a precautionary measure so as to safeguard themselves against falciparum malaria or cerebral malaria. Very few individuals enter these forests without taking a preventive dose of anti-malarial drugs, as seen in the picture above.
These forests contain numerous perennial streams and lakes. Swarms of mosquitoes are found throughout the dense forests as the water bodies provide an extremely fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The last tiger census undertaken by the Similipal Tiger Project a few years back, enumerated the tiger population to be in excess of 110. It is estimated that in addition to tigers, 200 leopards, 100 hyenas, 200 wild elephants, innumerable wild dogs, king cobras, monsoon cobras, spectacled cobras, lizards and other poisonous snakes exist in this forest.