Baripada: Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers can return to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district from November 1, as the reserve prepares to reopen after its annual monsoon closure. The reserve, which was shut to tourists on June 29, will resume visits under a set of entry timings, vehicle restrictions and safety guidelines. According…
Bhubaneswar: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha has strengthened its wildlife protection system with the installation of 18 AI-enabled camera traps linked to an advanced surveillance tower, enabling forest personnel to monitor wildlife movements and potential threats in real time from a central control room. The camera traps have been installed across remote forest interiors since…
Debrigarh: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is set to offer visitors a wider range of nature-based experiences with the addition of new accommodation and visitor facilities developed under the Integrated Hirakud Development Plan (IHDP). The expansion aims to strengthen the sanctuary’s position as an ecotourism destination while creating livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent communities living in the surrounding…
Bhubaneswar: The Hirakud Wildlife Division has intensified protection measures at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary for the monsoon season by issuing a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to strengthen surveillance, prevent wildlife crime and improve emergency response from July to October. The SOP comes as the onset of monsoon increases conservation challenges in the 353 sq km…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Hirakud Wetland, a recognised Ramsar Site, has recorded a remarkable rise in summer bird nesting activity in 2026, signalling improving ecological conditions and the growing impact of sustained conservation efforts across the wetland ecosystem. Fresh assessments carried out in June this year revealed that 19 bird species nested across the wetland and adjoining…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has taken a major step in wildlife conservation with its first-ever house sparrow census, documenting a total of 83,576 birds across the state during 2025–26. The survey, conducted by the Wildlife Foundation Bhubaneswar, revealed a striking regional variation in sparrow populations. Sonepur district emerged as the hotspot, recording over 30,000 sparrows, while coastal…
Bhubaneswar: Bhitarkanika National Park, known for its population of giant saltwater crocodiles, will remain closed to tourists from May 1 to July 31 to facilitate the annual breeding and nesting season of the reptiles. The closure order has been issued by the Rajnagar Forest Division to ensure a disturbance-free habitat during this critical period. Officials…
Bhubaneswar: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary has achieved a major milestone in 2025–26, recording its highest-ever revenue of ₹6.02 crore and attracting nearly 1.4 lakh tourists, reaffirming its growing stature as one of India’s emerging wildlife and eco-tourism destinations. The figures mark a sharp rise from the previous financial year (2024–25), when the destination generated ₹5.01 crore…
Bhubaneswar: Reiterating the importance of forests in sustainable development, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday underscored Odisha’s progress in expanding green cover and conserving biodiversity while attending a programme marking the International Day of Forests at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre. The Chief Minister reviewed a photo exhibition highlighting the state’s forest initiatives…
Berhampur: Thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles arrived at the Rushikulya river mouth early Sunday morning, marking the beginning of the annual mass nesting season along Odisha’s coast. Forest officials said around 10,220 female turtles emerged from the Bay of Bengal and laid eggs along a 2.5-km stretch of beach near the river mouth on…
