Bhubaneswar, April 24 -- The state government has declared Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district as a National Park.

The Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department today issued a notification in this regard.

The STR is spread over 2,306.61 sq km area. Out of this, an area of 845.70 sq km has been declared as the National Park.

As per the criteria, the National Park must be completely inviolate and free from human habitation and movement of domestic animals.

The core area of Similipal, spread over 1,194.75 sq km area, had six villages. The district administration in Mayurbhanj has relocated the villages and declared 845.70 sq km area as free from human habitations.

Notably, Similipal is well-known across...