Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News?

Recently, the Odisha Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is set to become India’s newest Tiger reserve.

• Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is popularly known as The Land of Bisons.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.
• Location – It is situated in the Bargarh district of Odisha.
• Rivers and Dams – The sanctuary’s lifeline is the Mahanadi River, whose waters are harnessed by the Hirakud Dam.

Hirakud Reservoir is a Wetland, Ramsar Site, and International Bird Area one of the largest man-made reservoirs and the longest dam in India.

• Vegetation – It is a dry deciduous forest with varied flora that dominates the sanctuary area.
• Flora – Sal, Sisoo, Bandhan, Mahul, Dhaura, Karada, Harda, Ainla, Bahada, Domkurdu, etc.

• Salia bamboo is scattered throughout the sanctuary.
• Fauna – Tiger, Leopard, Indian Bison (Gaur), Sambar, Spotted Deer, Chousingha (Four-horned antelope), Sloth bear, Wild boar, Langur, Percupine.
• Migratory birds such as Great crested grebe, Brahminy duck, Pintail, Shoveller, Godwal, Tufted pochard and several other water ducks are seen during winter.
• Historical significance – The sanctuary uniquely integrates India’s freedom struggle history with wildlife conservation.
• Veer Surendra Sai used these rugged terrains as his operational base against British colonial rule, making the landscape as significant historically as it is ecologically.
• Pilgrimage – The Bara Bakra pilgrimage site inside the sanctuary continues to attract over 5,000 annual visitors during Sankranti.
• Technology-enabled conservation – The sanctuary is deploying advanced monitoring systems, including camera traps and AI-based wildlife tracking.
• Dark sky tourism – Debrigarh has emerged as India’s foremost dark sky destination, with around 1,000 sq km of habitation-free landscape.

Reference

Deccan Herald| Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.