Other Protected Areas and Sanctuaries of Odisha

Overview of the Protected Area Network

Odisha’s protected area network encompasses 2 national parks, 19 wildlife sanctuaries, 1 biosphere reserve, and 3 tiger reserves, together covering approximately 4.9 per cent of the state’s geographical area. In addition, the state has designated 3 elephant reserves and numerous eco-sensitive zones. This network is a crucial component of India’s national conservation strategy, representing habitats from coastal mangroves to montane grasslands, from dry deciduous forests to freshwater wetlands. The protected areas serve as the last refuges for a range of endangered species and maintain essential ecosystem services including watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and genetic resource conservation.

Satkosia Tiger Reserve

The Satkosia Tiger Reserve, spanning approximately 964 square kilometres across Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh districts, encompasses the spectacular Satkosia Gorge — a 22-kilometre-long canyon carved by the Mahanadi River through the Eastern Ghats. The reserve was created in 2007 by amalgamating the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary (established 1976) and the Baisipalli Sanctuary (established 1981). The river splits the reserve into two distinct halves, with the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary on the right bank and Baisipalli on the left. The forest is predominantly moist deciduous with sal, asan, and bamboo as dominant species. The reserve supports a population of tigers (approximately 3-5 as per recent estimates), leopards, elephants, gaur, sambar, chital, and the resident population of the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), which was reintroduced into the Mahanadi as part of Project Crocodile. The mugger crocodile is also found in good numbers along the river. The scenic beauty of the gorge, combined with riverine activities like boating, makes Satkosia a promising site for eco-tourism, though Maoist activity in the region has constrained full development of its tourism potential.

Nandankanan Zoological Park

Nandankanan, located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, is unique as it combines a zoological park with a wildlife sanctuary. Established in 1960 and declared a sanctuary in 1979, Nandankanan covers 4.37 square kilometres and is set around the Kanjia Lake. The zoo is internationally recognised for being the first in India to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and for its successful captive breeding programmes. It is particularly noted for having the world’s first captive-born white tiger cub (1980), born to normal-coloured parents. The zoo houses over 2,660 animals of 166 species, including many of the iconic Indian species — Bengal tiger, white tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian rhinoceros, and various primates. The adjacent botanical garden and the lake’s natural ecosystem make Nandankanan a significant centre for conservation education, research, and recreation, attracting over 3 million visitors annually.

Other Important Wildlife Sanctuaries

Elephant Reserves and Corridors

Odisha harbours one of the largest Asian elephant populations in India, estimated at around 2,000 individuals. Three elephant reserves have been declared to ensure the long-term conservation of these mega-herbivores. The Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve (the largest and oldest) has Similipal at its core. The Sambalpur-Badrama Elephant Reserve protects the central-northern population across Keonjhar, Deogarh, Angul, Sambalpur, and Dhenkanal. The Mahanadi Elephant Reserve covers the southern elephant population in the Mahanadi catchment in Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, and Nayagarh. The maintenance of functional elephant corridors between these reserves — forested strips that allow elephants to move seasonally between habitats — is a priority conservation challenge. Several corridors, including the Kotagarh-Chandaka, the Kahneijena-Badrama, and the Similipal-Hadgarh-Kuldiha corridors, are threatened by mining, infrastructure development, and agricultural encroachment. The fragmentation of elephant habitat has led to increased human-elephant conflict, with dozens of human deaths and crop losses reported annually.