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News- A poacher was arrested recently after an exchange of fire with forest guards at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district. Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
About Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: It is located in the Balasore district of Odisha, within the Eastern Ghats.
- Area: It spans an area of 272 sq.km. and falls under the Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
- Conservation significance: It forms a part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, serving as an important corridor for elephant movement and conservation.
- Ecological connectivity: The sanctuary is ecologically linked to the Simlipal Tiger Reserve through the Nato and Sukhupada hill ranges.
- Water systems: The sanctuary is drained by the Kuldiha stream and its tributaries, which play a crucial role in maintaining the region’s hydrological and ecological balance.
- Vegetation: The forest type is a mix of Peninsular Sal forests and moist mixed deciduous forests. It is bordered by the Nilgiri forest to the north and the Mayurbhanj forest to the west, forming a contiguous forest ecosystem.
- Flora: Prominent tree species include Sal (Shorea robusta), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), Piyasal (Pterocarpus marsupium), Bahera (Terminalia bellirica), Mango (Mangifera indica), and Simul (Bombax ceiba).
- Fauna: The sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, wild cats, leopards, gaurs, long-tailed monkeys, and giant squirrels. Notable bird species found here include peafowl, hill mynas, and hornbills.
