India has 10 black tigers, all in Odisha

The government on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that there are 10 black tigers (melanistic tigers) in India and all are found exclusively in Odisha's Similipal tiger reserve. "As per the 2022 cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 16 individuals were recorded at Similipal Tiger Reserve, out of which 10 were melanistic," said minister of state for environment, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, in response to a Parliament question. He said, "Melanistic tigers have been recorded only in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha.