In April 2025, which protected area was officially notified as India’s 107th national park?

📘 Explanation

In April 2025, the Odisha government officially notified Similipal as a National Park, making it the 107th national park in India under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

• The notification was issued on 24 April 2025 by the Odisha Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.

• The national park covers about 845.7 sq km in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

• It is now the largest national park in Odisha and the second national park in the state after Bhitarkanika National Park.

This declaration strengthened wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection in the region.

📗 व्याख्या

अप्रैल 2025 में ओडिशा सरकार ने सिमिलीपाल को आधिकारिक रूप से राष्ट्रीय उद्यान (National Park) घोषित किया।
इस घोषणा के बाद सिमिलीपाल भारत का 107वां राष्ट्रीय उद्यान बन गया।

• यह अधिसूचना 24 अप्रैल 2025 को जारी की गई।

• यह राष्ट्रीय उद्यान ओडिशा के मयूरभंज जिले में लगभग 845.7 वर्ग किमी क्षेत्र में फैला हुआ है।

• यह ओडिशा का सबसे बड़ा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान है और राज्य का दूसरा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान है।

🌿 Extra Facts

• Similipal was earlier a tiger reserve and biosphere reserve before getting national park status.

• It is famous for rare pseudo-melanistic (black) tigers.

• The forest contains sal trees, waterfalls, and rich biodiversity, including elephants, gaurs, and many bird species.

• The proposal to declare it a national park had been pending for over 40 years before final approval in 2025