Tiger reserve status to Satkosia sanctuary in Orissa

Baripada, Sep 13(UNI) The Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary has become the second tiger reserve in Orissa after Simlipal.

The Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has accorded the status of a tiger reserve to the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. The reserve, according to the 2004 pugmark based census, was home to 18 Royal Bengal Tigers (RBT) and 34 leopards.

Orissa had strongly advocated for the state's second tiger reserve at Satkosia before the Steering Committee meeting of the Ministry of Environment and Forest held at New Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Environment and Forest Minister A Raja.

Orissa Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Suresh Chandra Mohanty said, the state's long cherished demand has been fulfilled and hoped that the Great Cat would now get the protective umbrella of the ''Project Tiger''.

Satkosia would now receive the honour of being Orissa's second tiger reserve, next only to Simlipal, and the country's 29th Tiger Reserve, Mr Mohanty said.

Referring to Satkosia's special faunal composition, he said it was home to the gravely endangered Gavial or the Gharial crocodiles (Gavialis gangeticus).

The reserve, spread over an area of 795.52 sq kms, has been curved out from the four districts- Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh.

It was also considered as the meeting point of two biogeography regions, such as Deccan penninsular and the Eastern Ghat contributing to rich biological diversities. Apart from this, it has a tremendous genetic and ecological importance as it was the wettest portion of the Deccan zone.

The Satkosia reserve also served as a major watershed due to its dense forest canopy, the Chief Wildlife Warden said.

Meanwhile, Wildlife buffs and environmentalists have welcomed the decision of the MOEF's decision in giving the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary the status of the second tiger reserve in Orissa.

Society for Advancement of Forests and Environment) Secretary Soubhagya Das said, such decision would help in transforming Satkosia into a unique nursery for the Great Cat where they could breed in peace, rest and then sprawl out.

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