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A bout
Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary was established in
1976 and, including a 22 kilometre long gorge where the Mahandi river
cuts through the Eastern Ghats, the total sanctuary area is about 796
square kilometres. Dhenkanal is situated to the south of the gorge and
to its north is Phulboni district. The nearest town from the sanctuary
is Angul, situated at a distance of about 58 kilometres. The nearest
railway station is Talcher, about 76 kilometres away, while the
nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, 220 kilometres away. The forest
type of Satkoshia sanctuary is one of mixed deciduous forest with
predominant species of sal, mahua and bahera. The forest was at one
time the habitat of tigers and leopards, but at present these faunal
species are rarely found. About 10 kilometres south of the gorge at
Purnakote and Labangi, Gharials had made their home in the Mahanadi
river and this sanctuary was established primarily to protect the
crocodile, an endangered species. A crocodile project was also set up
with that objective. |