Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary:
A recent study found that dense vegetation in Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, home to spotted deer and blackbucks, has shrunk from 41.8% in 1993 to 37.1% in 2023.
- Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Puri district, Odisha.
- It was declared a sanctuary on 23 April 1984.
- It has an area of 87 sq.km.
- It was established on the sandy tract covered by plantation of casurina and cashew trees, along the coast between Puri and Konark.
- It is traversed by the rivulets such as Nuanai River, Kusabhadra River, Kadua River, and Prachi River.
- Apart from cashew and casurina plantation, Australian acacia and eucalyptus plantations has also been done.
- Jamun, ficus, neem, karanj, and polang trees are also found, mostly along the course of the Kusabhadra and Nuanai rivers.
- It is home to herds of herbivores (spotted deer), monkeys, jungle cat, hyena, monitor lizard, snakes, etc.
- Olive Ridley sea turtles have been seen nesting on the beach.
