Following a unique way of existence, the wild life
of any region is very important to it. It is due to the natural beauty
of the place it exaggerates, economical value of the products it yields,
valuable knowledge one can attain by studying it and the balanced eco
systems it helps to maintain.
But the ever growing deforestation has posed a serious threat to the
wild animals. To meet this challenge, some anxious animal lovers are
striving hard to protect the endangered wildlife as well as those
species that are on the verge of extinction.
Home to a considerable percentage of wildlife in India, the state of
Orissa has also come to the forefront to fight this evil. The Orissa
Wildlife Conservation Organization came into existence in 1974 following
the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. In 1976, the OWC was redefined by
appointing the Chief Wildlife Warden as the conservator of forests.
The state government has taken end less number of initiatives to
protect the wildlife of the state. To save the 54 endangered species of
the wild animals of the state, about 10.37% of the total forest area of
the state has been converted into a protected area. This protected cover
is 4.1% of the total geographical area of the state.
The first sanctuary established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
was the Bhitar Kanika Wildlife Sanctuary. Other sanctuaries which
followed were Satkosia Gorge in 1976, Hadgah in 1978, Simplipal and
Nandankanan in 1979, Baisipalli and Kotagarh in 1981,Chandaka, Karlapat
and Khalasuni in1982, Kuldiha and Balukhand in 1984, Lakhari and
Debrigarh in1985, Badrama and Chilika-Nalaban in 1987, Sunabeda in1988
and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in1997.
Orissa Wildlife Conservation Achievements
The two main projects which have been undertaken by the State Wildlife
Conservation are Project Tiger hatched in 1972 and Project Elephant
being started in 1991.
'Project Tiger' was an initiative taken to save the wild tigers from
hunters and consequently preserve them. The state of Orissa houses one
of the nine tiger reserves in the country named the Simplipal National
Park.
Project Elephant on the other hand saw the establishment of three
elephant reserves in the state that were formed in Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi
and Sambalpur.
The wildlife conservation drive in Orissa worked towards marine life
protection too. A crocodile cnservation program was therefore launched
in Orissa in the period 1974-75. In order to protect sea turtles, sea
turtle conservation program was started in 1976. Under this program,
three major beaches of the state have been converted into mass nesting
beaches of endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
