Odisha has vast land for supporting the sustainability of several varieties of animals and birds in their natural abode. While some areas are recognised as national parks and sanctuaries, others go unrecognized and hence, the Government is hardly careful about protecting their biodiversities.

Among the national parks, Similipal and Bhitarkanika have a special importance in the State. These regions are rich in wildlife and hence, the Government has launched a slew of schemes to conserve and promote it.

The Similipal and Bhitarkanika are situated within northern zone of the State. When the Similipal park is in the eastern-ghat hill ranges, the Bhitarkanika park is situated at the river mouths of Bramhani and Baitrani rivers meeting the Bay of Bangal. Both the rivers have formed a vast estuarine wetland, where the largest rookery of the Olive Ridley sea turtles is found.

The total area of the Similipal hill range is 4,374sqkm out of which 2,200 sqkm is the sanctuary area. Though there are hundreds of varieties of animals and birds found in the sanctuary, it is famous for its Royal Bengal tiger. Predatory animals like leopards or panthers and wild dogs are found here. Similarly, Sambar, chital mouse, deer, bison, elephant, giant squirrel, bear, wild boar, pig, hyena, wolf, jackal and various birds are found in the sanctuary forests. The rarest of rare bird species like crested serpent eagle is found in the Maghasini hills. The presence of this bird is an indicator of richness of the biotic complex of that region. This bird prefers marshy land, dense forest track and hills. Fishes, snakes, frogs, rats, lizards and all kind of reptiles are its food.

The serpent eagle is another unique bird species of the region. It lays eggs during winter and spring.  The eggs look white and broad oval. Both sexes perform the domestic duties during breeding period.

There are many reptiles in the Similipal biosphere region also. No special protective measure is taken to save the reptiles of the region. The snakes found here are Indian python, rat snake, common krait, banded krait, black krait, viper and bamboo pit viper.

The writer remembers to have caught sight of a king cobra from the Hadagarh forests in 1965-66 at the foot hill of Similipal. In 1975-76, when the writer was in charge of the Similipal range, the State Accounts Committee had visited the Similipal biosphere. There was a tribal MlA in the committee from Koraput district. He insisted the field staff of Ghahala in Similipal biosphere to kill a rat snake, which was passing then in the front of Chatala forest rest home. He was a snake eater.

There are certain tribes in our State who eat snake, cooked or raw. The best soup is prepared from python. In Hong Kong and China, the soup is very popular. Snake gall bladder, flesh and oil are used as medicines in many parts of the world. Fat of snakes too is used as medicine in Europe and America. The fat oil and flesh of snakes remove certain muscular diseases. So, snakes are killed in many tribal lands.

Similipal is no exception. Similarly, horns of rhinoceros and python meat are used to promote sexual appetite. The snakes usually feed on rats, all kinds of rodents, frogs, lizards, small snakes, eggs of the birds and fishes.

The king cobra and python always prefer a land where they get plenty of foods. The Similipal provides the best habitat for these reptiles.

Besides, Similipal also is famous for its orchids. Prime amphibian crocodile too is found in Barehipani waterfall.

The Bhitarkanika park is situated hardly 40 km longitudinal distance from the foothill of the Similipal. This comes under the revenue district of Kendrapara. There are several creeks and creek lets within the area. It supports the largest population of crocodiles, which come to 1,649 as per a current census.

As it is observed, the population of crocodiles is static because of constant interference of man within the habitat area. This is also home to king cobra and many non poisonous snakes like python and rat snake etc. It is also rich in fowl varieties.

Many resident and migratory birds are found during the winter. Besides, it is also an ideal habitat for animals. There are 63 species of mangroves found in the Bhitarkanika. Thousands of sea turtles come to its sandy beach every year for nesting and breeding.

 Gahirmatha, at the edge of the sanctuary, is known for these endangered species.

(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)