Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary Odia: କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ଅଭୟାରଣ୍ୟ is situated in the Balasore district of Odisha, India. The sanctuary is spread across 272.75 km2 in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region. It is linked with Simlipal National Park via the Sukhupada and Nato hill ranges. It is classified as an Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forest ecoregion.

Description
Kuldiha was declared a sanctuary on 4 January 1984. It is famous for the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve that spreads across Simlipal, Kuldiha and Hadgarh wildlife reserves. Locally in Kuldiha, the elephant reserve is known as Tenda Elephant Reserve. There is a watch tower at Garsimulia for tourists to view animals in the reserve. The sanctuary offers night stay accommodation at Kuldiha entrance, Jadachua and Rishia in form of huts, tents and a few concrete houses. It is usually closed during the peak monsoon season. A major fire was reported in 2012 that engulfed both Simlipal and Kuldiha forests, causing significant damage to flora and fauna. On August 2, 2013, the MoEFCC declared the sanctuary an ecological sensitive zone.

Flora and fauna
The sanctuary is characterized by a diverse ecosystem, primarily consisting of a mixed deciduous forest where the Sal tree is the dominant species. This habitat harbors a plethora of wildlife, showcasing the biodiversity of the region. Among the notable inhabitants are tigers, gaurs, sambars, peafowls, and various migratory birds.

Tourism
Kuldiha is an integral part of tourism in northern Odisha.

Ecotourism
Odisha's government took recognition of the environmental damage being done by private operators to many parks, sanctuaries, and reserves, resulting in a sustainable threat to biodiversity. It came up with an ecotourism focus to conserve the pristine state of nature while making it economically viable with a PPP model. The Kuldiha sanctuary is operated in a community-based ecotourism model that benefits locals and tribesmen inhabiting the core area of the sanctuary.