Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary: Location, History, and Wildlife Significance

#GS-3 #Environment #Biodiversity #Wildlife #Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary #Ramsar Sites

Key takeaways

A Royal Bengal Tiger reached the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha via the Dechuan-Lakhanpur corridor.
Notified in 1985 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, this sanctuary spans 346.91 sq km in the Bargarh district.
The sanctuary is bordered by the Hirakud Reservoir on the Mahanadi River, protecting a recognized Ramsar wetland ecosystem.
Freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai used the Barapahad hills inside the reserve as a base during his 19th-century anti-colonial resistance.
The sanctuary houses over 200 bird species along the Central Asian Flyway and supports 40+ mammal and 40+ reptile species.

A Royal Bengal Tiger entered the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha through the Dechuan-Lakhanpur corridor.
This event marks the second time in 5 years that a big cat has moved into this protected reserve.

The sanctuary covers an area of 346.91 sq km and functions as a declared Eco-Sensitive Zone.
It acts as a key conservation area that supports both dry-deciduous forest ecosystems and large wetland habitats.

The sanctuary sits in the Bargarh district of western Odisha, right next to Sambalpur.
The massive Hirakud Reservoir on the Mahanadi River forms its boundary along the eastern and northern sides.

The government declared this area a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to protect central Indian wildlife.
Freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai used the rugged Barapahad hills inside this sanctuary as a guerrilla base to fight British forces during the 19th century.

The nearby Hirakud Dam reservoir creates a mix of dry deciduous forests and freshwater wetlands that support over 250 plant species with traditional medicinal uses.
The area serves as a key winter home for thousands of migratory birds travelling along the Central Asian Flyway, hosting more than 200 bird species.
The sanctuary supports rich wildlife across 40+ mammal species and 40+ reptile species, including leopards, Indian gaurs, sambar, spotted deer, wild dogs, and chowsingha.
It maintains one of the highest herbivore prey densities in western Odisha, made possible by relocating forest villages to remove human pressure and animal conflicts.

The sanctuary works as a vital wildlife corridor, enabling tigers to move between Chhattisgarh’s Gomarda-Achanakmar landscape and western Odisha.
It helps protect the Hirakud Reservoir Ramsar wetland ecosystem by controlling soil erosion, preventing factory expansion, and safeguarding local fish populations.