DAMPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Env and Eco)

Context: As a first, the Forest Department in Odisha has planned a ‘nocturnal trail’ for people, especially students and researchers, in the Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Cuttack Districts of Odisha State, close to the state capital, Bhubaneswar. Nestled in the Khordha uplands of the 'North-Eastern Ghats' biotic region.
• Geography and Size: Covering 193.39 sq.km of rolling table land and small sprawling hillocks.
• This area has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary since August 1982.
• Wildlife Conservation: Known for the successful conservation of elephants, which is the principal species thriving in this sanctuary.
• Vegetation: The floral diversity within the sanctuary spans six types, including secondary moist miscellaneous semi-evergreen forests, moist Kangada (Xyliaxylocarpa) forests, Coastal Sal forests, thorny bamboo brakes, planted Teak, and Eupatorium scrub.
• Reservoirs: Two water reservoirs, namely Deras Dam and Jhumka Dam, are situated within the sanctuary.
• Flora: Kochila, Kalicha, Belo, Kangada, Giringa, Sunari, Sal, Kumbhi, Jamu, Karanja, Teak, and Sidha.
• Fauna: Leopard, Chital, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Wild pig, Common langur, Rhesus monkey, small Indian civet, etc.