Odisha: NTCA nod to declare Debrigarh as tiger reserve

Bhubaneswar: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given its approval to a proposal of Odisha government to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sambalpur district as a tiger reserve.

The approval comes close on the heels of spotting of a Royal Bengal Tiger at the sanctuary in December last year.

“The NTCA has approved a proposal for declaring Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding forests as a tiger reserve at its technical committee meeting recently,” said a source in the Forest and Environment department.

Debrigarh will be the third tiger reserve of Odisha after Similipal and Satkosia. The state government will issue a notification in this regard soon, it added.

The state government had proposed to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve in 2018.

Notably, a Royal Bengal Tiger was spotted at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time in five years on December 1, 2022.

A group of tourists had spotted the young sub-adult tiger at the entrance of the sanctuary.

Forest department officials had then claimed that tigers from forests in neighbouring Chhattisgarh often stray into Debrigarh and make the sanctuary as their second home.

Spread of 804.51 sq km area, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary has plenty of prey animals for tigers and other carnivorous animals.

Wild animals such as bison, sambar, chital, chowsingha, wild boar and leopard are sighted frequently at the sanctuary. Debrigarh is also home to one of the largest bat habitats in the world, sources said.

“One can find at least 30 prey animals per sq km at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary. This is very ideal condition for growth of tiger population at Debrigarh,” said a wildlife expert.