UpdateBot at 03:09, 3 February 2022

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{{short description|Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha , India adjoining Simlipal National Park}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name = {{lang|or|କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣାଳୟ}}
| iucn_category = IV
| photo =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| photo_width =
| map = Odisha
| map_alt = Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
| map_caption = Location of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha
| map_width =
| relief =
| label =
| label_position =
| mark =
| marker_size =
| location =
| nearest_city = [[Balasore]]
| coords = {{Coord|21.20|N|86.3|E|region:IN}}
| area_km2 = 272.75
| designation =
| authorized =
| created =
| established =
| designated = {{Start date|1984|1|4}}
| visitation_num = 6340
| visitation_year = 2015
| visitation_ref = <ref name="indexp">{{cite news|title=Kuldiha Sanctuary Closed|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Kuldiha-Sanctuary-Closed/2015/06/16/article2869147.ece|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=16 June 2015}}</ref>
| governing_body = Ministry of Forest and Environment, [[Government of Odisha]]
| administrator =
| operator =
| owner =
| world_heritage_site =
| website = http://www.kuldihatourism.com/
| url =
| child =
| embedded =
}}
The '''Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary''' ({{lang-or|କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ଅଭୟାରଣ୍ୟ}}) is situated in the [[Balasore district]] of [[Odisha]], [[India]]. The sanctuary is spread across {{convert|272.75|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in the [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]] region. It is linked with [[Simlipal National Park]] via the Sukhupada and Nato hill ranges. It is classified as an [[Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests]] [[ecoregion]].

==About==
It was declared a sanctuary on 4 January 1984.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Ramakrishna |author2=Zoological Survey of India |title=Faunal resources of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Mayurbhanj, Orissa |date=2006 |publisher=Zoological Survey of India |location=Kolkata |isbn=8181711149 |page=3}}</ref> It is famous for the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve that spreads across [[Simlipal National Park|Simlipal]], Kuldiha and [[Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary|Hadgarh]] wildlife reserves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve|url=http://www.similipal.org/elephant_reserve.php|website=www.simlipal.org|accessdate=27 May 2016}}</ref> Locally in Kuldiha, the elephant reserve is known as Tenda Elephant Reserve.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kuldiha Forest, Balasore – 350 kms [sic] from Kolkata|url=http://weekenddestinations.info/2011/distance/201-500-kms/kuldiha-forest-balasore-350-kms-from-kolkata/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=R P|title=The Indian Forester (Volume 122)|publisher=University of Minnesota|pages=927–931|edition=1996}}</ref> There is a watch tower strategically created at Garsimulia for animal lovers to have a look at elephants bathing or drinking water from a small stream that runs right through the reserve.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kuldiha- A less known Forest|url=http://ourtravelindia.blogspot.in/2009/09/kuldiha-less-known-forest.html|date=6 Sep 2009}}</ref> The sanctuary offers night stay accommodation at Kuldiha entrance, Jadachua and Rishia in form of huts, tents and a few concrete houses. Prior reservation is required for night stay.<ref name="ecotourismreport" /> It is usually closed during the peak [[monsoon]] season which typically falls between July and September.<ref name="indexp" /> Major fire was reported in 2012 that engulfed both Simlipal and Kuldiha forests causing significant damage to flora and fauna.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forest fire engulfs Similipal, Kuldiha areas|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/forest-fire-engulfs-similipal-kuldiha-areas-453671.html|publisher=news18|date=8 Mar 2012}}</ref> The sanctuary has been declared an ecological sensitive zone as of {{Start date|2013|8|2}} by the [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|government]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Submission of proposals to the States for declaration of Eco-sensitive Zones..|url=http://www.moef.nic.in/sites/default/files/scan0202.pdf|publisher=[[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)]]|page=3|date=2 Aug 2013}}</ref>

==Tourism==
Kuldiha is an integral part of tourism in northern Odisha, attracting tourists and scholars alike.

===Ecotourism===
Odisha’s government took recognition of the environmental damage being done by private operators to many parks, sanctuaries and reserves resulting in a sustainable threat to [[biodiversity]]. It came up with an [[ecotourism]] focus to conserve the pristine state of nature while making it economically viable with a [[Public–private partnership|PPP]] model. Kuldiha sanctuary is operated in a community based ecotourism model that benefits locals and tribesmen inhabiting the core area of the sanctuary.<ref name="ecotourismreport">{{cite web|last1=Udgata|first1=Harsha Bardhan|title=Eco-Tourism Destinations of Odisha|url=http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2012/nov/engpdf/45-49.pdf|publisher=[[Government of Odisha]]|page=49|date=Nov 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Raghu Prasad|first1=R|title=ECOTOURISM AND PROTECTED AREAS: CONTRIBUTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY, PILOTED IN SATKOSIA|url=http://www.teriuniversity.ac.in/mct/pdf/new/assignment/Raghu_Prasad_Ecotourism_and_Protected_Areas.pdf|publisher=[[TERI University]]|accessdate=30 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ECOTOURISM IN ODISHA|url=http://www.odishaecotourism.com/ecotourism-odisha.html|website=www.odishaecotourism.com|accessdate=30 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Barik|first1=Bibhuti|title=Private push to eco-tourism|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140616/jsp/odisha/story_18514760.jsp#.V0vF6JF97IU|work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]]|date=June 2015}}</ref>

===Access===
The sanctuary is almost equidistant from [[Bhubaneswar]] and [[Kolkata]]. It is easier to reach from Bhubaneswar, being the capital city of Odisha state. The nearest airport is [[Biju Patnaik International Airport]]. The nearest railway station is [[Balasore railway station]]. One can take [[National Highway 16 (India)|NH16]] (earlier designated NH5) and reach [[Nilagiri]] via State Highway 19; thereafter a scenic narrow road leads to the sanctuary entrance.

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Black-crested bulbul at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India 2012.jpg|thumb|200px|Black-crested bulbul]]
It is a mixed [[deciduous]] forest dominated by the [[Shorea robusta|Sal]] tree. Various animals inhabit the forest, including [[Tiger]], [[Leopard]], [[Elephant]], [[Gaur]], [[Sambar deer|Sambar]], [[Giant Squirrel]], [[Common hill myna|Hill Myna]], [[Peafowl]], [[Hornbills]], other [[Bird migration|migratory birds]] and reptiles .<ref>{{cite book|last1=Murmu|first1=Atindra|last2=Mazumdar|first2=P.C.|author3=S. Chaudhuri |title=Mammal and avi-fauna of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Orissa|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.zoological.occpapers.344|date=2013|publisher=Zoological Survey of India|location=Kolkata|isbn=978-8181713414}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Negi|first1=S.S.|title=Handbook of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves in India|date=2002|publisher=Indus Pub. Co.|location=New Delhi|isbn=8173871280|page=145|edition=3rd rev.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Winged Visitors Find New Winter Homes|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Winged-Visitors-Find-New-Winter-Homes/2014/01/11/article1994784.ece|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=11 Jan 2014}}</ref> A comprehensive scientific report on the animal species present in the park is available in this survey:{{ISSN|2449-8866}}.<ref name="fnf1">{{cite journal|last1=Rout|first1=Srustidhar|display-authors=etal|journal=Current Life Sciences|title=Diversity of herpetofaunal community in Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary, Odisha, India|date=27 Dec 2015|language=English|issn=2449-8866|volume=2016 2(1)|issue=9–14}}</ref> The sanctuary is a haven for environmental and animal research. There are numerous scientific surveys and reports available that focus on the study of flora and fauna of the sanctuary.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Food and Feeding habits of Indian Bison, Bos Gaurus (Smith, 1827) in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Balasore, Odisha, India and its Conservation|journal=International Research Journal of Biological Sciences|date=8 May 2015|volume=4 |issue=5|pages=73–79|issn=2278-3202}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mohapatra|first1=KK|last2=Patra|first2=AK|last3=Paramanik|first3=DS|title=Food and feeding behaviour of Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus Linn.) in Kuldiha Wild Life Sanctuary, Odisha, India.|journal=Journal of Environmental Biology|date=January 2013|volume=34|issue=1|pages=87–92|pmid=24006812}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Hemanta K Sahu|author2=Harsha B Udgata|author3=Subrat Debata|author4=Himanshu S Palei|title=Vertebrate Fauna of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary|date=2014|publisher=Himalaya Publishing House|location=Mumbai|isbn=9789351427308|pages=128|url=https://www.academia.edu/19762954|accessdate=30 May 2016|language=English}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education]]
*[[Panchalingeshwar]]
*[[Wildlife sanctuaries of India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Notes==
Approval from Himalaya Publishing House to use their academic report uploaded herewith for future reference.[[File:Kuldiha Fauna Report Approval.pdf|10px|Kuldiha Fauna Report Approval]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.kuldihatourism.com/ Kuldiha Tourism]

{{Protected areas of Odisha}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Odisha]]
[[Category:Chota Nagpur dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Orissa]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1984]]

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

UpdateBot at 03:09, 3 February 2022