The Government of Orissa declared Similipal Sanctuary with an area of about 2200 sq. km. in 1979. Government of Orissa proposed 303 sq. km. area of the Similipal Sanctuary as National Park in 1980. The area of the proposed National Park was increased to 845 sq. km. in 1986.

Government of India in 1994 declared the creation of Similipal Biosphere Reserve. In 1995, for the purpose of implementation of the Eco-development Scheme in the periphery of Similipal Tiger Reserve, two forest divisions, namely Baripada and Karanjia were transferred from Angual Forest Circle to the Reserve.

Within Similipal no feature can be claimed as of archeological significance, although names like Ganapati, Devasthali, Nawana, Garh Similipal etc., indicate the historical significance of the places. The Kichkeswari temple outside Similipal is linked to archaeological richness of the district.

Tiger (Panthera tigris) including melanistic forms, Leopard (Panthera pardus), Elephant (Elephas maximus), Sambar (cervus unicolor), Barking deer (Muntiacus munjak), Bison (Bos gaurus), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) and Common langur (Presbytis entellus)

The Reserve is managed as per the guidelines issued under the various central schemes, e.g. Project Tiger, Crocodile Project, Project Elephant, Man and the Biosphere Programme and the Eco-development Project. Broadly focus is on protection, habitat management and research.

Stringent protection measures by the management during monsoon by deployment of circle mobile staff at vulnerable spots has controlled the incidence of Elephant poaching.

Research

Fires are common and frequent. Fires are generally confined to ground only. The causes of fire are purely biotic, mainly by MFP collectors, hunters, poachers and callous tourists. Fire season commences in mid-February and continues up to mid-June normally. However, sporadic rains, pre-monsoon showers and summer storms curtail the intensity of fires.

Early control burning of the meadows help a lot in reducing fire hazard, core lines also serve as fire lines. Beside 29 anti-poaching camps are established during last three years which also serve as anti-fire squad.

Prosopis juliflora had been a favourite species in the past in Rajasthan in afforestation activities. This was more so because of dire shortage of fuel wood for the consumption in villages and cities. The Prosopis juliflora plantations raised around the Reserve in the past has started posing serious problem to the eco-systems of Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary. It is encroaching upon the natural flora. The spread of Prosopis juliflora is being facilitated by goat and sheep. An estimated 100 sq. km. of the Reserve is infested with P. Juliflora. The Prosopis juliflora unfortunately was not tended in the past. It has gained bushy growth devoid of thick stem, therefore, it has not helped in reducing the pressure on forest where the demand is for good fuel wood or small timber for agricultural implements. The area covered by Prosopis juliflora is likely to double in the next 10 years.

Problem due to tenant operation

Of late a new problem on account tenant timber operation inside the Tiger Reserve is posing a socio-economic as well as environmental threat. There are 59 villages located inside the tiger reserve and in each village there are recorded holdings with good tree growth. Most of the tree owners are SC/ST who are quite innocent and ignorant of law. Taking advantage of their ignorance the unscrupulous timber contractors in connivance with some Government officials are purchasing their trees without proper payment to them. The provisions of the Orissa Protection of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Interest in trees) Act 1981 and the Orissa Timber and Other Forest Produce Transit (Amendment) Rule 1994 are being misused very often. If such a situation is allowed to continue, following hazards will devastate the Reserve.
(i) Illicit felling under the cover of tenant timber operation will increase.

(ii) Timber loaded trucks in the Reserve would extensively damage the roads, which are not capable of carrying loaded trucks at present. This will also disturb the environment and obstruct animals' movement.

(iii) Poachers and smugglers will infiltrate into the park through the operating contractors.

a) There should be a residential colony on the fringe of the Reserve in the nearby developed town for all forest guards and foresters. This colony should be well developed and have school, hospital etc.

b) Forest Guards, Foresters, Range Officers and Daily-wage laborers staying inside the Reserve should be provided subsidised ration.

c) For easy mobility each Range should be provided with a jeep and each section head quarter should be provided with a motorcycle and VHF network.

d) There should be a provision of 'Project Allowance' or 'Tiger Allowance', which should be sufficient to compensate for the adverse conditions, in which staff is working. This should not be less than 40 per cent of basic pay.

e) The forest staff have been provided with the arms, but power to open fire is still not vested with them. The power to use fire arms for protection should be vested with management. In addition Field Director, Deputy Field Director, Assistent Conservator of Forests and Division Forest Officers should be declared as 'Magistrate'.

f) Three well equipped 'strike forces' should be provided for effective patrolling.

g) The present system of issue of letter of credit (L.C.) should be withdrawn and the flow of fund should be regular, so that activities which are mostly time bound are not hampered.

h) It is desirable that 65 nos. of villages located inside the Reserve, especially 4 villages located inside the core area and 7 villages located adjoining the core area should be relocated outside the Reserve not only to preserve the 'habitat' in its natural form, but also to check the incidence of smuggling of timber and poaching of wild animals.

i) Number of anti-poaching camp should be increased.