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Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

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Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣାଳୟ
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
Location of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha
Nearest cityBalasore
Coordinates21°12′N 86°18′E / 21.20°N 86.3°E / 21.20; 86.3
Area272.75 km2 (105.31 sq mi)
Designated4 January 1984 (1984-01-04)
Visitors6340 (in 2015)[1]
Governing bodyMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Odisha
Websitewww.kuldihatourism.com
www.wildlife.odisha.gov.in/protectedareas/ProtectedareasKuldiha

The Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary (Odia: କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ଅଭୟାରଣ୍ୟ) is situated in the Balasore district of OdishaIndia. The sanctuary is spread across 272.75 km2 (105 sq mi) in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region. It is linked with Simlipal National Park via the Sukhupada and Nato hill ranges. It is classified as an Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forest ecoregion.

Description

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Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
15km
10miles
Joranda
O
Barehipani
O
Kuldiha
WS
Similipal
WS
Suleipat
WR
Bankbol
WR
Sunei
WR
Kalo
WR
Meghasani
HT
Important locations of Similipal biosphere
WS: Wildlife Sanctuary, WR: Water Reservoir, HT: Hill Top, O: Other importance
Note: Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Kuldiha was declared a sanctuary on 4 January 1984.[2] It is known for the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve that spreads across Simlipal, Kuldiha and Hadgarh wildlife reserves.[3] Locally in Kuldiha, the elephant reserve is known as Tenda Elephant Reserve.[4][5]

The sanctuary offers night-stay accommodation at Kuldiha entrance, Jadachua and Rishia in the form of huts, tents and a few concrete houses. [6] There is a watch tower at Garsimulia for tourists to view animals in the reserve.[7] It is usually closed during the peak of the monsoon season.[1]

A major fire was reported in early 2012 that engulfed both Simlipal and Kuldiha forests, causing significant damage to their flora and fauna.[8] Following this on 2 August 2013 (2013-08-02), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared the sanctuary an ecologically sensitive zone.[9]

Flora and fauna

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Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary map. Green and blue colors show forest cover and water bodies, respectively.

The sanctuary primarily consists of a mixed deciduous forest where the Sal tree is the dominant species. The habitat harbors a wide range of wildlife, including tigers, gaurs, sambars, peafowls and various migratory birds.[citation needed]

Tourism

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Odisha's government recognised the environmental damage to the area committed by private operators and started using a PPP model ecotourism focus. The Kuldiha sanctuary is operated as a community-based ecotourism model.[6][10][11][12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Kuldiha Sanctuary Closed". The New Indian Express. 16 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015.
  2. ^ Ramakrishna; Zoological Survey of India (2006). Faunal resources of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Mayurbhanj, Orissa. Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India. p. 3. ISBN 8181711149.
  3. ^ "Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve". www.simlipal.org. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Kuldiha Forest, Balasore – 350 kms [sic] from Kolkata". 6 June 2011.
  5. ^ Sharma, R P. The Indian Forester (Volume 122) (1996 ed.). University of Minnesota. pp. 927–931.
  6. ^ a b Udgata, Harsha Bardhan (November 2012). "Eco-Tourism Destinations of Odisha" (PDF). Government of Odisha. p. 49.
  7. ^ "Kuldiha- A less known Forest". 6 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Forest fire engulfs Similipal, Kuldiha areas". news18. 8 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Submission of proposals to the States for declaration of Eco-sensitive Zones." (PDF). Ministry of Environment and Forests (India). 2 August 2013. p. 3.
  10. ^ Raghu Prasad, R. "Ecotourism and Protected Areas: Contributing Community Development and Conserving Biodiversity, Piloted in Satkosia" (PDF). TERI University. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Ecotourism in Odisha". www.odishaecotourism.com. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  12. ^ Barik, Bibhuti (June 2015). "Private push to eco-tourism". The Telegraph (Calcutta). Archived from the original on 5 August 2016.
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