Satkosia Tiger Reserve: Resume tiger re-introduction
The Odisha government’s proposal to resume tiger re-introduction in Satkosia Tiger Reserve has received in-principle approval of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Odisha, India
- This reserve encompasses the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The river Mahanadi flows through the valleys in the middle of the Reserve.
- The area is also a part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve.
- It is the meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India, the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.
- The terrain is hilly with moderate to steep slopes and narrow valleys.
- The forest vegetation comprises North Indian tropical moist deciduous forests and Moist peninsular low-level sal.
- The main tree species is sal, which grows in gregarious formations.
- Other associate species are Asan (Terminalia alata), Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), and Simal (Bombax ceiba).
- The flagship species among the fauna include tiger, leopard, elephant, spotted deer, sambar, chowsingha, barking deer, bison, wild dog, sloth bear, jackal, giant squirrel, and porcupine.
- It is the natural habitat of two endangered species, viz., the freshwater crocodile and the gharial.
