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Site description (2004 baseline):

Chandaka was declared a sanctuary for the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus. It covers major portions of Chankada and Dampara ranges of Puri Forest Division, and forms a compact and contiguous forest tract. The reserve lies to the west of the Cuttack-Khurda road between Barang and Chhatabar, c. 20 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The ground is generally undulating, interrupted by small hills. The northeastern and central portions are generally flat. The highest peak is 202 m (Mishra, undated). There is no perennial stream or river in the Sanctuary, as its topography is such that water drains away rapidly. The situation is further aggravated by deforestation and overgrazing. Kumarkhunti reservoir (100 ha) is the only water reservoir inside the Sanctuary that sustains wildlife during the summer.

AVIFAUNA: Kumarkhunti reservoir used to hold breeding populations of about 5,000 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans on the bamboo along the shores, but for the past four years the storks are not nesting as the trees have died due to excessive deposition of uric acid from the guano. But with the planting of new trees, the storks are likely to return for breeding. Wetlands International (2002) estimates 125,000 as the breeding population of the Asian Openbill in South Asia, which means that before the birds abandoned the nesting colony, about 4% of the biogeographical population used to breed at this site. Besides the two widely distributed Gyps vultures, the globally threatened Purple Wood-Pigeon Columba punicea and Broadtailed Grass-Warbler Schoenicola platyura have also been reported by the participants of the BNHS-IBA workshops. The site lies in Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone). Of the 59 species listed in Biome-11 from India, 25 have been found at this IBA site, proving it a good representative of Biome-11 species. Three species occurring in Biome-10 (Indian Peninsula Tropical Moist Forest) are also reported from here, but need further confirmation. They are the Small Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris, Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii and Loten’s Sunbird Nectarinia lotenia.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much is known about other wildlife of this area, except that it holds a population of about 70 Asian Elephant. Other mammals recorded include Wild Dog Coun alphinus, Leopard Panthera pardus, Spotted Deer Axis axis, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus. Pythons and Monitor Lizards also occur here in good numbers.

MAIN THREATS: Agricultural intensification and expansion industrialisation; Urbanisation; Forest fires; Man-Animal Conflict.

Chandaka holds a population of 65-70 elephants. The Sanctuary is like an island for these pachyderms, which sometimes go out into the surrounding villages and raid crops. This causes much conflict with the villagers. Elephant proof trenches, masonary walls and electric fencing is being presently carried out. Morever, elephants regularly stray out of the Sanctuary and enter the outskirts of Bhubaneswar city, damaging farms and houses. This has also resulted in an increase in human casualties in the last 5 years. Rapid growth of the city borders and urbanisation results in conflict with the elephants. The five villages located inside the Sanctuary have converted the valleys and plains into paddy fields, resluting in acute shortage of fodder for the resident elephants. At least 5,000 cows, mostly feral, graze inside the Sanctuary further add to the competition for the grass (Biswajit Mohanty pers. comm. 2004). There are 5 villages inside the Sanctuary and 22 on the fringes. Around 562 families have already been shifted out, but there is still pressure for fuel wood on the Sanctuary. Forest fires used to be a major cause of concern, but few were witnessed in 2001. Awareness among the local people for wildlife is needed and Wild Orissa, an NGO, is attempting the construction of an Environmental Interpretation Centre at Godibari.

Key contributors: Bivash Pandav, B. C. Choudhury, Biswajit Mohanty and Wild Orissa.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Chandaka - Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/chandaka--dampara-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/11/2024.