Environment

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards strengthening wildlife conservation and ensuring community safety, the Odisha government on Friday held a high-level workshop on human-wildlife conflict mitigation at the State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan. Presiding over the session via video conference, Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, proposed the introduction of…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park continues to strengthen its status as a major habitat for saltwater crocodiles, with the latest census showing a rise of 32 crocodiles over the past year, reflecting sustained conservation efforts in the region. The Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department on Monday announced that the annual estuarine crocodile census recorded…

Bhubaneswar: A major step towards strengthening wildlife conservation while empowering local women, the Hirakud Wildlife Division has inducted five all-women squads into its forest enforcement unit for the protection of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative in the division. Of the five recruits, four women belong to tribal families from villages located in the…

Bhubaneswar: The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change (FE&CC) Department on Thursday reviewed the progress of forest diversion clearances for major infrastructure and industrial projects and directed officials to fast-track approvals while strictly adhering to prescribed timelines. The review took place during the third monthly coordination meeting held on December…

Bhubaneswar: In a landmark step toward community-led conservation and sustainable ecotourism, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary today launched rustic homestay facilities in Dhodrokusum village, marking the first-ever homestay initiative in Odisha to be managed directly by forest-dependent communities under the supervision of the Forest Department. Located on the foothills of the sanctuary and adjoining the scenic Hirakud…

Bargarh: For the first time, the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is set to involve college and school students in the upcoming All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2025–26, marking a milestone in participatory wildlife conservation. The initiative aims to inspire the younger generation to actively engage in protecting biodiversity under the theme “Conserve today for a wilder…

Sambalpur: As part of the celebrations for Wildlife Week 2025, the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary has opened a 2-kilometre-long Birding Trail to the public, offering a refreshing avenue for nature enthusiasts, children, and youth to experience the sanctuary’s avian diversity up close. The newly developed Birding Trail takes trekkers through a scenic route of nallas, streams,…

Bhubaneswar: Preparations are underway for a three-day bird census at Bhitarkanika National Park, scheduled from August 30 to September 1, with a focus on assessing the population and nesting behaviour of colonial nesting birds. The enumeration will be conducted at four major nesting sites—Matha Dia, Laxmiprasad Dia, Durgaprasad Dia, and Bali Dia—spread across the Kanika…