Debrigarh Sanctuary to Become 3rd Tiger Reserve in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Sambalpur district’s Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third tiger reserve in Odisha. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given approval to a proposal of the Odisha government regarding it. In 2018, the Odisha government proposed to declare the Debrigarh sanctuary as a tiger reserve.

On December 1, 2022, a Royal Bengal Tiger was spotted at the Debrigarh Sanctuary.

In its technical committee meeting held recently, the NTCA approved the proposal to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding forests as a tiger reserve. Odisha government is expected to issue a notification regarding it soon.

Two tiger reserves already exist in Odisha. They are Similipal and Satkosia. Debrigarh will be the third tiger reserve to be added to the list. The state government had proposed to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve in 2018.

On December 1, 2022, a group of tourists photographed a young sub-adult tiger at the entrance of the sanctuary.

According to forest officials, usually, tigers from forests in neighbouring Chhattisgarh enter Debrigarh sanctuary and use it as their second home.

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is of 804.51 sq km area. It has an ample number of prey animals for tigers, making it a suitable spot for a tiger reserve. This sanctuary also has bison, sambar, chital, chowsingha, wild boar, and leopard. Debrigarh is also said to be home to one of the largest bat habitats in the world.