Kuldiha

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the district of Balasore in the state of Orissa. The forests of the region cover the Nato hills and the Sukhupata hills merging with the Similipal National Park. One of the major Orissa wildlife sanctuaries, the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is home to rare species of animals and plants. Mangrove plant species such as Bani, Rai, etc. are seen at the coast specifically at the confluence of the river Budhabalanga. The moist climate of Kuldiha favours growth of a variety of Orchids.The whole topography of the place provides ample scope for trekking and hiking. The sanctuary also forms a part of the the trekking route of that starts from the Nilgiris.

The Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa spreads across an area of 272.75 square kilometers. The thick wooded forests of the region are home to wild animals like the tiger, elephant, leopards, sambar, bison, gaur and giant squirrels. Elephants that characterize the landscape are commonly seen in Kuldiha. The reservoirs attract the elephants round the year. Forests along the migration route of elephants from Kuldiha to Similipal and Hadagarh through the forests of Gogua, Ketakijhari, Balihudi and Kupari are fragmented but offers scope for revival. From the year 2004, tiger has been reported from Kuldiha. This could have been possible because of establishment of forest linkage with Similipal. The forest also houses a variety of birds like hornbills, hill myna, peacock and peafowl. The perennial streams that water the forests are home to a variety of reptiles. The hilly terrain and the deciduous forest support the wide range of animal species that have made it their natural habitat.

Kuldiha fits into a tourism circuit encompassing Chandipur, Remuna, Nilagiri and Panchalingeswar. Kuldiha presents typical mixture of Peninsular (coastal) Sal forests and moist mixed deciduous forests of deccan peninsula. Small rivers emerging from the Kuldiha landscape are Tangana, Kamala, Basudhar, Uastal Nala. The forested areas of the region feed to Budhabalanga through tributaries Sono in North and Gangahar in south.

There are two reservoirs in Kuldiha. The Rissia reservoir in northwest is over river Tangana and Sindhua reservoir in southeast is over Uastal nala. These to reservoirs have helped the crop and climate regime of the region.

About Fauna :

As one reaches the perfect clearing in the jungle, leopards can be seen licking themselves clean on extended branches of trees, while elephants and deers forage the ground. Jungle Fowl and monkeys are common sight there.

Even in the moonlight, one can catch sharp shadows of the pachyderms from a distance of 20 metres. It is a truly enjoyable sight to see the elephants shovelling the earth with their feet and trunks to get at the salt balls below.

Yet it boasts of a healthy population of elephants along with deer, bison, bear and leopard. And if the forest guard is to be believed, the herbivores are regular visitors at the saltlick.

There are two rest houses for the tourists to rest in the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. The two rest houses are at Kuldiha and Jadaclhuan. The government of the state of Orissa maintains the wildlife sanctuary which preserves the rare and endangered species of animals and plants.