Located close to the boundary of Chhatisgarh state on the western fringe of Orissa in the newly created Nuapada district, this sanctury covers 600 sq. km. of dry deciduous forests. The plateau on the hill top holds a slightly undulating flat land with good edible grass. Eleven beautiful waterfalls and seasonal streams which dry out during summer leaving few deep pools of water. These are very fascinating attractions. Major wildlife species are: tiger, leopard, hyena, barking deer, chital, gaur, sambar, sloth bear, varieties of birds such as hill myna, pea fowl, partridge and a number of reptilian species. This sanctury is considered as an ideal habitat for Barasingha (locally extinct).
Proposed as a Tiger Reserve, Sunabeda Sanctuary in Nuapada district is largely a grass-covered plateau adjoining Udanti and Sitanadi Sanctuaries of Chhatisgarh State. It forms a migration link for wild buffaloes across the two states of Orissa and Chhatisgarh. The sanctuary is an attraction to ecotourists because of elepven waterfalls, caves at Ranimuhas, archaeological sites at Giribaman, Jumlagarh Fort and Muraguda, and the bird observation points at Jalki and Raital Bandh in Maraguda. Sunabeda forms a part of the tourist route linking Nrushinghanath, Harishakar, Patal Ganga, Patora Reservoir and Jogeswar Temple. The life-styles and the livelihood opportunities generated for people of 43 villages hold in them the future sustenance of Sunabeda Sanctuary as a part of an interstate habitat for tiger and wild buffalo.
Chilika has a pride of place in Orissa’s literature and culture, and has influenced the poets and philosophers. It has held great significance for planners, scientists, international organizations like ‘The Wetlands International’ and ‘Asian Wetland Bureau’. Chilika lagoon has been designated as a Ramsar site (Wetland of International importance) from the 1st October, l981.
Chilika, the largest brackish water wetland (1000 sq. km aprox.) in the country is situated in the east coast of the state in the district of Puri, Ganjam and Khurda. A vast and picturesque lagoon/lake is famous for rich bio-diversity including the migratory birds and has been acknowledged as a “Ramsar site”.
Chilika is the largest inland brackish water body of its kind in Asia forming an enomorous lagoon situated on the east coast of peninsular India between 19° 28′ N to 19°54′ N latitude and 85° 6′ E to 85° 35′ E longitude in the districts of Puri, Ganjam and Khurda in the state of Orissa
The vast and dream like Chilika Lagoon is situated on the east-coast of India. It is the largest brackish Water Lagoon with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent. It is one of the hotspot of biodiversity in the country, and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened Animals inhabit in the lagoon for atleast part of their life cycle. The total number of fish species are reported to be 225 (Dean and Saaltink, 1991). Along with a variety of phytoplankton, algae and aquatic plants, the Lake region also supports over 350 species of non-aquatic plants (Panda and Pattnaik, 1988). By a recent phytodiversiy survey by CDA ( 2002) 710 number of plants identified from Chilika( within the waterbody, including the Islands and shoreline plants) . A survey of the fauna of Chilika carried out by the Zoological Survey of India in 1985-87 recorded over 800 species in and around the lagoon. This list includes a number of rare, threatened and endangered species, including the Barakudia limbless skink. On account of its rich bio-diversity, Chilika was designated as a “Ramsar Site”, i.e. a wetland of International Importance. The Nalaban Island within the lagoon is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, the National Wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, have also identified the lagoon as a priority site for conservation and management. The Lagoon is a highly productive ecosystem, with rich fishery resources. The rich fishing ground sustain the livelihood of more than 0.15 million fisherfolk who live in and around the Lagoon.
Amidst lush green forest along the banks of Kanjia lake, lies Nandankanan Zoological Park which together with lake and Botanical garden is declared as sanctuary (4.4. sq. km.).
The park is set in a beautiful natural setting and is one of the finest parks in the country with natural enclosures unlike other conventional zoos. It has an open Lion Safari and first zoo in the world, where gharials have bred in captivity.
Only about 13 kilometers away from the State capital of Bhubaneswar, this small sanctuary, established in 1979, is in fact a modern zoological park. The species shown in varying habitats give a good introduction to the range and diversity of India’s fauna. Accommodation is available in hotels, tourist lodges and forest rest houses, in and around the Biological Park. For reservations contact the Director, Nandankanan Biological Park.
Nandan Kanan A short distance from the capital city, Bhubeneshwar, the Nandankanan zoo lies in the splendid environs of the CHANDAKA forest , along the ripling water of the KANJIA LAKE.It also contains a botanical garden and part of it is has been declared a santuary.
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