The Keonjhar Regional Chapter of Wild Orissa was inaugurated recently in Harichandanpur by eminent wildlife conservationist and 2011 Earth Hero awardee Nanda Kishore Bhujabal. Suchitra Sahoo and many wildlife lovers were present during the event. The new wing will focus on wildlife conservation initiatives in the Keonjhar.
The Keonjhar district is rich in biodiversity with approximately 3,400 sq km area under forests including reserved forests. These forests are home to elephants and tigers apart from a variety of birds and reptiles.
The district is home to two of the critically endangered species viz. tiger and elephant. The forests of Keonjhar constitute an important corridor for elephants duly identified under Project Elephant connecting Hadgarh and Similipal on one side and the Keonjhar forests to the south. Because of extensive mining in the region, elephants and tigers may not be using the corridors regularly, but with restorative management initiatives these corridors could be revived thereby contributing positively to wildlife conservation in the country.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA) has proposed that jurisdiction of the Similipal landscape should be expanded to include parts of Keonjhar so as to improve the wildlife corridor connecting State’s two tiger reserves - Similipal and Satkosia. If this is done then it will enhance the tiger population and their genetic health.
The SimilipalIJKuldihaIJHadgarh forest belt which consists of parts ofKeonjhar district harbours around 500 elephants. Further, the south Keonjhar plateau and adjacent forest areas consisting of Deogaon, Ghatgaon and Telkoi and nearby forests of Kamakhsyanagar spreading around 2,000 sq km are another critical elephant habitat.