[1] Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the area.

[6] The Government of Odisha declared Simlipal as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979 with an area of 2,200 square kilometres (850 sq mi).

Later in 1980, the state government proposed 303 square kilometres (117 sq mi) of the sanctuary as a national park.

The Forest Department, wildlife NGOs and local administration have initiated talks with these villages on their relocation.

Simlipal Elephant Reserve is an ecosystem complete with forest vegetation (mainly sal trees), fauna and the adjoining Ho / Santhal tribal settlements.

[13] Therefore, it is extremely important for tourists to be aware of the threats posed by cerebral malaria before planning a visit to Simlipal.

[citation needed] In 2021, large fires broke out in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve, and continued to burn for over two weeks before they were brought under control.

[14] The 2021 Simlipal forest fires resulted in widespread environmental damage, and caused an exodus of fauna from the park into nearby human habitations.

The forest boasts of innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants, which provide a source of earnings for the tribal people.

[3] The major mammals include tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, Sambar deer, barking deer,gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, chausingha (four horned antelope), giant squirrel and common langur.

The lower rate of conversion at disturbed sites is due to the removal of seedlings of most of the tree species.

However, the presence of the seedlings of dominant tree species in the buffer area may help in the restoration of the plant communities in the long-run, provided protection means are strengthened and biotic stress reduced.