Mahandadi Wildlife Division

The Mahandadi Wildlife Division is one of the most prominent places of interest that are situated in the state of Orissa. It houses a variety of wildlife, which is the main attraction of the place.

The Mahandadi Wildlife Division at Orissa was established by the department of forest and environment under the state government of Orissa on the 12th of July in 1999. It is made up of four reserve forests, which are the Arakhpadarand and Padmatolain reserve forests of the district of Boudh and the Baisipalli and Mahanadi reserve forests of the district of Nayagarh.

The Mahandadi Wildlife Division is situated towards the south of the Mahanadi river. It comprises of two different sanctuaries called the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary and the Baisipalli Sanctuary.

The total area taken up by the Mahandadi Wildlife Division in Orissa is 168.35 square kms. The area of the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary is 268.94 square kms, while that of the Baisipalli Sanctuary is 168.35 square kms.

The animals that are found here include tigers, striped hyenas, leopards, wild dogs, fox, Indian wolves, sambars, sloth bears, fishing cats,civet cats, chousinghas, leopard cats, flying squirels, chitals, gaurs, wild boars, gharials, elephants, monitor lizards, maggar crocodiles, king cobras, turtises, hernbills, pythons and other varieties of snakes, Brahamananay ducks and hill mynas.

The major plants of these two sanctuaries are bija, sal, asan, amba, amala, kurum, bahada, kochila, dhoura, palas, harida, kendu, neem, kusum, panas, oau, siris, rai, sunari, sisoo and bamboo. Many types of shrubs, grasses, climbers, bryophytes, gymnosperms and pterodophytes are found here.

The Mahandadi Wildlife Division of Orissa has four different ranges, which are Banigochha East, Chhamundia, Banigochha West and Kusanga. The headquarters of these ranges are situated at Kuanaria, Chhamundia, Banigochha and Kusanga.