Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Map: India
Current relevance:
The
Odisha government has constituted a high-level committee to examine the
relocation of villages from Satkosia Tiger Reserve, following allegations
of procedural violations and forced eviction of residents.
State:
Satkosia
Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha, India, in Asia. It lies in the heartland of Odisha and
extends across the Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh districts,
according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
River Flowing through the Reserve:
The
Mahanadi River flows through the valleys of Satkosia Tiger Reserve
and cuts across the Eastern Ghats to form the famous Satkosia Gorge.
Significance:
1.
Unique
biogeographic transition zone: Satkosia lies at the meeting zone of the Chhotanagpur Plateau and
Eastern Ghats biotic provinces, supporting biological elements of both
regions.
2.
Mahanadi
Gorge ecosystem: The
reserve contains the spectacular 22.5-km-long Satkosia Gorge, carved by
the Mahanadi River, and supports important aquatic biodiversity of the
Eastern Ghats.
3.
Rich
biodiversity: It
supports 400+ plant species, 38 mammal species, 200+ bird species, 27
reptile species and 183 fish species.
4.
Important
flagship species habitat:
The landscape supports species such as tiger, elephant, leopard, wild dog,
gaur, gharial and mugger crocodile, along with endangered turtles.
5.
Elephant
and tiger connectivity:
Satkosia forms part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve, while the Similipal–Satkosia
corridor is important for potential tiger dispersal and wider landscape
connectivity.
Source: THE HINDU