Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Satkosia Tiger Reserve Latest News

In a fresh controversy, the Odisha government recently floated a tender for the construction of a high-level bridge over the Mahanadi river near the ecologically sensitive Satkosia tiger reserve.

About Satkosia Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is located in the heartland of Odisha and spread over four districts, viz. Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh.
• It comprises two adjoining sanctuaries, namely Baisipalli Sanctuary and Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary.
• It covers an area of 1136.70 sq.km, including a buffer of 440.26 sq.km.
• The area is also a part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve.
• Satkosia is the meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India: the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.
• Landscape: The terrain is hilly with moderate to steep slopes and narrow valleys. 
• The river Mahanadi flows through the valleys in the middle of the reserve.
• The average elevation of the terrain varies between 37 m and 932 m, with the lowest point being at Katrang and the highest point being at Sunakhania.
• Vegetation: The forest vegetation comprises North Indian tropical moist deciduous forests and Moist peninsular low-level sal.
• Flora:
  • The main tree species is sal, which grows in gregarious formations.
  • Other associate species are Asan (Terminalia alata), Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), and Simal (Bombax ceiba).
• Fauna:
  • The flagship species among the fauna include tiger, leopard, elephant, spotted deer, sambar, chowsingha, barking deer, bison, wild dog, sloth bear, jackal, giant squirrel, and porcupine.
  • It is the natural habitat of two endangered species, viz., the freshwater crocodile and the gharial.

Source: NIE

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