Satkosia Tiger Reserve

About Satkosia Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in Odisha and spreads over four districts, viz. Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh.
• It comprises two adjoining sanctuaries, namely Baisipalli Sanctuary and Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary.
• The reserve has an area of 1136.70 sq.km. with 523.61 sq.km. as a core area. The area is also a part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve.
• Satkosia is the meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.
• Landscape: The terrain is hilly, with moderate to steep slopes and narrow valleys.
• The river Mahanadi flows through the valleys in the middle of the reserve.
• The average elevation of the terrain varies between 37 m and 932 m, with the lowest point being at Katrang and the highest point being at Sunakhania.
• Vegetation: The forest vegetation comprises of North Indian tropical moist deciduous forests and Moist peninsular low-level sal.
• Flora:
  • The main tree species being sal, which grows in gregarious formations.
  • Other associate species are Asan (Terminalia alata), Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), and Simal (Bombax ceiba).
• Fauna:
  • The reserve has a low population of tiger, leopard, elephant, spotted deer, sambar, chowsingha, barking deer, bison, wild dog, sloth bear, jackal, giant squirrel, and porcupine.
  • It is the natural habitat of two endangered species, viz., the freshwater crocodile and the gharial.