The Odisha Government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine the relocation of villages from the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR). The inquiry follows allegations by residents that they were forcibly displaced from their ancestral villages despite having coexisted with wildlife for a long period.
The committee will examine whether the relocation process complied with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and applicable National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.
About Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha and is centred around the spectacular Mahanadi Gorge. It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2007 by combining the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipali Sanctuary.
Origin
The Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary was established in 1976, while the Baisipali Sanctuary was notified in 1981. These two protected areas were subsequently combined to form the Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
Geographical Significance
Satkosia lies at the meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions, giving the reserve considerable ecological and biodiversity significance.
The reserve is characterised by a 22.5-km-long gorge through which the Mahanadi River flows. The gorge creates a diverse landscape consisting of riverine, forest and wetland habitats.
Biodiversity
The reserve supports a wide variety of wildlife, including leopards, elephants, gaurs, gharials and mugger crocodiles, along with diverse reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish.
Its vegetation is primarily composed of mixed deciduous and riverine forests, with Sal (Shorea robusta) being an important tree species.
Elephant Conservation
Satkosia is also part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve, making it important for elephant conservation, habitat protection and wildlife connectivity.
Tiger Population
Satkosia historically supported a tiger population, but its numbers declined significantly. The tiger population fell from 12 in 2007 to just one by 2018–19, while the 2022 tiger census recorded no tigers in the reserve.
Tiger Reintroduction Programme
In 2018, Satkosia became the site of India's first inter-State tiger relocation programme, under which tigers were brought from Madhya Pradesh. However, the programme failed, and Odisha has been considering renewed efforts to supplement the tiger population.
Conservation Challenges
The major conservation challenges include the presence of villages within and around the reserve, concerns regarding relocation and forest rights, human-wildlife interactions, and the need to create inviolate habitats for wildlife while ensuring the rights and livelihoods of local communities.
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In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
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