There is an immediate need to conserve the forests and wildlife in Brahmagiri area whch are now under threat due to developmental works, feel the experts of the Wild Orissa, who conducted a survey of the flora and fauna of the locality.
Wild Orissa demanded that an area of around 89 sq km consisting of major forests under the Forest Department’s control Palanka (126 hectares) and Kalikabadi (100 hectares)] and protected reserved forests Bada Andhari (120 hectares), Sana Andhari (40 hectares), Rameswarpur (20.4 hectares), Siaria (32.8 hectares), Manika Patna (92 hectares), Gopinathpur-1 (9.6 hectares) and Gopinathpur-3 (80 hectares), etc be notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary/Community Reserve/Conservation Reserve.
The status survey of the floral wealth of Brahmagiri forests was carried out between 2012 and 2013 in association with the Botany Department of Puri College. The findings reveal that the area represents with the 40 to 50 per cent sandy coast flora of entire Brahmagiri range forest. Euphorbiacea , Asteraceae, Cyperceae, Poaceae are found in this range.
Some rarest plant species are Micrococca-Mercurialis , Ceropegia Candelelorum , Tephrosia Purpurea , Var Maritime and Bulbostylis Subspinescens. Native species of plants represent 180 (90 per cent), naturalized species 17 (8 per cent) and exotic 3 (2 per cent).
The animals found are flying fox, striped hyena, jackal, wolf, spotted deer, Indian fox, jungle cat, porcupine, hare, water monitor lizard, and a rich variety of birds including kingfishers, woodpeckers, orioles, bull bul, darter, seagulls, kites, eagles, moorhens, crane, roller, etc. are found.
Some of the critically endangered species like Olive Ridley, Fishing Cat, Burmese Python, etc. inhabit the Brahmagiri area.
There is an immediate need to protect these non-protected areas, and take measures to mitigate the adverse impact of developmental projects. Accordingly there is an immediate need to bring these forests under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, said a Wild Orissa release issued by its chief spokesperson Kulamani Deo.