Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

From warmth loving tropical mammals to the rare Olive turtle that come here half way across the world only to lay eggs, Orissa’s animal population includes a whole gamut. Wildlife in Orissa is an integral part of the Orissa travel itinerary. The Government of Orissa is trying its best to safeguard the natural resources and implement a healthy conservation and preservation method.

To this end many old sanctuaries have been upgraded to reserves and parks, many new sanctuaries have been opened, and extensive research works are done by animal activists and environmentalists. Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most recent additions to the Wildlife sanctuaries of Orissa.

Located on the border of Chhattisgarh in the Nuapada district of Orissa, Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary sprawls over an area of 600 square kilometer. The natural vegetation consists of dry deciduous forests which supports the animal population of the region. The nearby waterfalls in the region increase the charm of the place. Make an effort to visit the place just after monsoon as that you can see the waterfalls in their full flow during this period. The sanctuary houses animals like tiger, chital, gaur, sambar, leopard, barking deer etc. Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary also has a rich avian population. You might come across myna, peafowl or partridges in the dense of the park.

Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary adjoins the Sitanadi and Udanti sanctuaries of Chhattisgarh. Wild buffaloes travel from Chhattisgarh to Orissa through this beautiful sanctuary. The surrounding Ranimuhas caves, bird observatory at Jalki and some nearby archeological sites adds to the charm of the sanctuary.