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Satkosia History - The Satkosia Gorge along the river Mahanadi, passes through Angul, Boudh, Cuttack and Nayagarh districts in central Orissa and is the natural habitat for the two endangered fresh water crocodilian species, the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and Mugger (Crocodylus palustris). In order to protect the dwindling crocodile population, the Forest Department of the Government of Orissa with technical support from the UNDP and FAO decided to start a breeding programme of crocodiles during March 1974. As a part of this joint conservation initiative, the Gharial Research and Conservation Unit (GRACU) was started during March 1975. The GRACU had done pioneering work in crocodile conservation in India. The activities include Conservation Breeding; releasing of reared crocodiles into the wild and its rehabilitation had been some of the challenging activities carried out by the centre. Thereafter in 1976 due to the immense biodiversity values, the dense forest lands on both sides of the river Mahanadi along the gorge was declared as the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. Subsequently the two adjoining sanctuaries namely the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli sanctuary were combinly and declared as Satkosia Tiger Reserve during December, 2007. Core area of the Tiger Reserve lies within Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary. The reserve is spread over 4 districts; Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh. The tiger reserve has an area of 964 sq km with 524 sq km as core area.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve - Satkosia spreads along the magnificent gorge over the mighty river Mahanadi in Orissa. Established in 1976 as a wildlife sanctuary, Satkosia is a paradise of immense scenic charm. It is one of the best ecosystems in the country, representing a diverse floral and faunal extravaganza. The name Satkosia originates from two words; sat meaning seven and kosk meaning two miles, indicating the length of the gorge as 14 miles or 22 km. The area was declared as Satkosia Tiger Reserve in 2007, comprising two adjoining wildlife sanctuaries; the Satkosia Gorge sanctuary and Baisipalli sanctuary. The reserve is spread over 4 districts; Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh.
The forests surrounding the Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi river including the stretch of river flowing through the gorge, were notified as Satkosia Gorge sanctuary in May, 1976. The contiguous area to the south of this sanctuary in Nayagarh District was notified as the Baisipali sanctuary in the year 1981. The wild fauna of these sanctuaries comprise of Tigers and Leopards, Elephants, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Pangolin, Giant Squirrel, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Gharial and Mugger crocodiles, fresh water turtles, freshwater rays, etc. These two sanctuaries together have been notified as Satkosia Tiger Reserve vide Notification No.8F(S)- 32/’2006/20807 /F&E. Dated, Bhubaneswar, the 31st December, 2007.
Visitors Must Know
Contact Details Angul, Orissa, 759 143, India. Phone - 91-6764-230304.
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The
reserve has an area of 964 sq km with 524 sq km as core area. The area
is also a part of the Mahanadi elephant reserve. Satkosia is the meeting
point of two bio-geographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and
the Eastern Ghats, contributing immense biodiversity.