Chandaka

Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary, a wildlife reserve lying in the north western fringe of Bhubaneswar in Orissa, is lying on the Khurdha highlands of ‘Eastern Ghats’ biotic region. Spread over 193 sq km at the Chandaka forest, Khurda Uplands were designated as the Chandaka Elephant Reserve in August 1982. Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary Orissa offers a full sense of wilder thrill and you get a unique experience very different from your day to day life. This offers full refreshment to your mind and body both. The sanctuary houses a total of 30 varieties of mammals, 27 varieties of reptiles and 120 varieties of birds. You can also find here the species of elephant, leopard, chital, barking deer, mouse deer, langur, rhesus monkey, mongoose, sloth bear, wolf and hyena, among others. Apart from that, the varieties of snakes like the python and the monitor lizard are available here. Among others inhabitants here, are the Mugger crocodiles, water birds, mainly storks, heron, egrets and cormorants.

Fauna

Elephant is the flagship species and indicative of the potential productivity of the habitat. Leopard is in the apex of biological pyramid. Chital, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Wild pig, Common langur, Rhesus monkey, small Indian civet, Common Indian mongoose, Small Indian mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Pangolin, Sloth bear, Ratel, Indian wolf and Hyena are other mammals of the area. Wild dogs are occasionally seen. Prominent birds of the sanctuary are Peafowl, Red jungle fowl, Crested serpent eagle, Great horned owl, Black headed oriole, Paradise fly catcher, Coucal and stone curlew. Among reptiles, Rock python and Bengal Monitor lizard are quite common. Chameleon, Common skink, Indian flap shell turtle, Russel’s viper, Bamboo pit viper, Common krait, Common vine snake, Kukri snake, Indian bronze back are indicative reptiles. Mugger crocodiles have remarkably adapted to large water bodies after their release.

or spotted deer, the most beautiful of all deer is commonly encountered in groups of 3-7 on forest roads, forest openings, grass lands, foreshore of water bodies and even near guard camps. Godibari, Kochilaberana, Ambokhali, Baunsha-berana, Mahuriabadi, Kumarkhunti, Jhalara, Ambilo and Saurabiula are places of good sighting success.

The ‘Gayal’ or Indian Bison has been lost since long. Kheluachua, the mud wallow of playful Sambars exists but not the animals. The last tigress of the forest ‘Kanan’ embraced captivity in search of a mate at Nandankanan in 1968. This is history. The presence of Leopard – the prince of cats, which has staged a come back and filled the vacant niche left by tiger, can be known from pug-marks. Look for it on the edge of water or on pug impression-pads (P.I.P) across roads. Expect the leopard at Kheluachua, Gadanbhanga, Ambilo, Chhatiani and Bualigarh. You may find one if lucky.

Elephants are always on the move feeding. Look for their feeding signs i.e., leftovers of twigs, pulled bamboo culms, uprooted saplings, debarked trees. Food plants of elephants include Bamboo, Moi, Ghonto, Dhobani, Siris, Mahul, Dhaman, Beta and Lajkuli (leaves and growing shoots), Kapasia, Panikodal, Kumbhi, Dhaman, Ghodalanjia(Bark), Kanchan, Gohira, Amba and Bela (fruits). Fresh foot-prints and dung bolus also indicate their presence. Expect them at water-holes in hot summer after noon and evenings. You may be lucky to see a tusker or even a family unit.

The Plumaged wonders – The avian life of the sanctuary is no less significant. Kumarkhunti reservoir, in winter, serve as transient roosting and feeding ground for several migratory duck species, notably, Garganey and common Teal, Pintail, spot billed and brahmny Duck and white eyed Pochard. Lesser whistling Teal, Dabchick, Cotton Teal, Nakta, lesser Cormorant, bronze winged Jacana, white breasted Waterhen, pied, white breasted and little blue King fishers and red wattled Lapwings are other resident birds around.

Come July, and the surrounding bamboo brakes of the reservoir transform in to a heronry of water birds, mainly, open billed Storks, pond Heron, Egrets and Cormorants.

Butterflies

A plethora of insects are also found here. Most of them are abundant during monsoon and post monsoon months within a height of 3 meters from ground. Look for them in forest openings, road sides, flowers, grasses, edges of water, wet mud, bird and animal droppings or food plants either feeding or basking. Common ones here are common Mormon, blue Mormon, common Emigrant, common Leopard, common Hedge Blue, Indian Crow, double banded Crow, common Sailer, common Bush brown, grey Pansy and peacock Pansy.

Watch Towers

Viewing animals unnoticed
While Kochilaberana, Pitagadia and Charichhak watch towers are excellent for observation of birds and animals, the ones at Kumarkhunti and Amblio have the comfort of rest houses where one can make a night halt and have a date with wild animals and birds without disturbing them.

Forest Denizens

The Kabaries, claiming ancestry with Jarasabar , the first worshiper of ‘Lord Jagannath’ in shape of Brahma (Wooden idol) are unskilled tribals. There are 455 families resident in the enclosed Gadjat village. There are many Kabari villages in the periphery of the sanctuary. They practice subsistent and marginal agriculture. Many of them earn a livelihood by collection and sale of firewood, bamboos and charcoal. Good many of them are excellent animal trackers and herbal healers.

Flora

Floral diversity is distributed in 6 types, viz., secondary moist miscellaneous semi- evergreen forests, moist Kangada (Xylia xylocarpa) forests, Coastal Sal forests, thorny bamboo brakes (Bambusa bamboos), planted Teak and Eupatorium scrub. Main tree species are Kochila, Kalicha, Bela, Kangada, Giringa, Sunari, Sal, Kumbhi, Jamu, Karanja, Teak and Sidha. Male bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) has a very restricted distribution. Common medicinal plants of the sanctuary are Duramari, Baidanka, Brudhadaraka, Bhuinlimba, Guluchi lata, Salparni, Satabari, Bhuin-kakharu, Indrajaba, Thalkudi, Apamaranga, Kurchi, and Patalgaruda etc. A few species of ground Orchids, Ferns, Club mosses, Bryophytes and Lichens are distributed in shady wet pockets and rock escarpments.

All for One —One for All

Bewildering variety of plants and animals exist in a state of harmony with intricate system of energy flow and dependencies – some known but lot unknown. We being part of nature and not apart from it, our very existence is dependent on unhindered functioning of the system. Diversity is the key stone of stability in the ecosystem and a measure of conservation success. Look for the connection between two life forms.

Location :

Lat 20⁰ -12′ to 20⁰ – 26′ N, Long 85⁰ -34′ to 85⁰-49’E.
Area : 193.39 sq.km.
Forest cover percentage : Dense – 16.34%, Open – 17.84%, Secondary – 56.72%, Scrub – 8.5%
Entry Points:–Godibari, Deras, Minchinpatna

Best time to visit Chandaka Sanctuary-
The best time to visit this verdant sanctuary is October to May.