The Mahandadi Wildlife Division is one of the popular sanctuaries in the Indian state of Orissa. It houses a variety of wildlife, which is the main attraction of the place.
The Mahandadi Wildlife Division at Orissa was set up on 12th of July in 1999 by the department of forest and environment under the state government of Orissa. 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 Nayagarh District. This Division was created specifically for proper upkeep and management of the sanctuary.
The Mahandadi Wildlife Division is situated towards the south of the Mahanadi River. The area of this Division comes under two District administration viz. Boudh and Nayagarh and the Division Office situated at Nayagarh. The Division area is situated south of the river Mahanadi consisting of Baisipalli Sanctuary and Satkosia Wildlife 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 Baisipalli Sanctuary was created on 6th, May 1981 by the Government of Orissa. It encompasses of the whole of Baisipalli RF which is divided into 20 compartments. The Banigochha East and Banigochha West Ranges is responsible for the management of the Sanctuary.
Flora and Fauna of Mahandadi Wildlife Division
The Mahandadi Wildlife Division is rich in vegetation and houses many animals also. The animals that are found here include tigers, leopards, Indian wolves, sambars, striped hyenas, sloth bears, fishing cats, civet cats, wild dogs, fox, flying squirels, wild boars, gharials, leopard cats, chousinghas, elephants, monitor lizards, gaurs, chitals, 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 also 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.
