Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

About Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is located in the Nuapada district of Odisha, adjoining Chhattisgarh.
• It is spread over a sprawling area of 600 sq kms. It was declared a sanctuary in the year 1983.
• It adjoins the Sitanadi and Udanti sanctuaries of Chhattisgarh. 
• The sanctuary harbors a great diversity of wildlife habitats, with a vast plateau, canyons, and 11 waterfalls.
• It also forms the catchment area of the Jonk River (tributary of Mahanadi River), over which a dam has been constructed to facilitate irrigation.
• Vegetation: The important vegetation of this sanctuary comprises dry deciduous tropical forests.
• Flora: Bija, Teak, Sisoo, Asan, Dharua, Mahul, Char, Sandal wood, Sidha, etc.
• Fauna:
  • It is an ideal habitat for the Barasingha (swamp deer).
  • Other important animals found are tigers, Leopards, hyenas, Barking Deer, Chital, Gaur, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Hill Myna, etc.
  • It also works as a migration link for rare wild Buffaloes between the states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

Q1) Which are the main tributaries of Mahanadi River?

Mahanadi river rises from Raipur district of Chhattisgarh and flows for about 851 km before its outfall into the Bay of Bengal . Its main tributaries are Seonath, Jonk, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Ong, and Tel.

Source: Maoists, security forces exchange fire in Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary