Bhubaneswar: Causing curiosity among the wildlife enthusiasts, the Forest Department in Odisha today revealed that a white tigress had been sighted in a forest in Dhenkanal over a century ago.

A report regarding the sighting of the white tigress had been published in the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society in 1909-1910, revealed Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha Prem Kumar Jha on the occasion of International Tiger Day 2026 on Wednesday.

“A report by a Forest Officer, published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural Society (1909-1910), documented the occurrence of a remarkable white tigress in the Dhenkanal forests. Such historical records provide valuable insights into the region’s wildlife heritage and help us better understand the long-term distribution of tigers in Odisha,” said the PCCF (Wildlife) in a social media post.

As per the article published in the journal, Forest Officer Bavis Singh had sighted the white tigress in the Mulin Sub-Division Forest in Dhenkanal.

“The ground colour was pure white and the stripes were of a deep reddish black colour. The tigress was in good condition and not showing any signs of disease,” wrote the Forest Officer in his article.

It is worth mentioning here that Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in the Odisha capital here is famous for its white tigers. It is the first zoo in the world to breed white tiger as well as melanistic (black) tiger.

As per the data provided by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India is home to altogether 3,682 tigers and 58 tiger reserves.