Proposal to Elevate Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary to National Park
#GS-3 #Environment #Wildlife #Biodiversity #National
Why in News
- The Forest Minister of Odisha announced a proposal to convert the **Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary** into a national park.
- The Odisha state government will send this proposal to the Central Government to rename and elevate it as the **Debrigarh-gaur National Park**.
Overview of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
- The sanctuary covers a total area of **353 square kilometers**, with **290.65 square kilometers** proposed as the core national park zone.
- It features a high density of large herbivores, an environment completely free of human settlements, and key populations of leopards, bisons, and rare antelopes.
Geographical Location
- The sanctuary is located in the **Bargarh district** in the western part of Odisha.
- It is surrounded by the **Hirakud Dam and Reservoir**, which creates a unique peninsula landscape around the forest.
Historical Significance
- The sanctuary is connected to India's freedom movement through the actions of revolutionary leaders.
- Freedom fighter **Veer Surendra Sai** set up his main guerrilla war base at **Barapathara** inside the sanctuary hills during his revolt against the British East India Company.
Key Ecological Features
- The forest consists mainly of tropical dry deciduous trees and grasslands, which offer rich food for herbivores.
- Valleys, rocky hills, and seasonal waterfalls near the Hirakud Reservoir keep water available during dry months.
- The proposed core area of **290.65 square kilometers** is free from human villages, encroachment, and cattle grazing.
Biological Significance
- Debrigarh houses Odisha's largest population of Indian gaur, numbering **848 individuals**.
- The region is a key habitat for the endangered **four-horned antelope (Chousingha)** along with many reptiles and mammals.
- Being next to the Hirakud Reservoir, it shelters **234 bird species** and attracts thousands of migratory waterbirds every year.