Included in Unesco's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the massive protected area has been in the news for all wrong reasons - from rampant poaching to presence of Left-wing extremists - of late. Recently, the then Union Environment and Forests minister Jairam Ramesh had asked the State Government to strengthen protection measures for the unique biodiversity hotspot.
Similipal Biosphere Reserve spreads over 5,569 sq km with 1,194.75 sq km as its core and 1,335.86 sq km as buffer zone. The rest 3,038.39 sq km comes under the transitional zone. It also has the largest natural watershed of northern Orissa which feeds 10 perennial streams draining into major rivers like the Budhabalanga, the Baitarani and the Subarnarekha.
The biosphere is also acknowledged as a biodiversity hotspot with 1,076 plant, 55 mammal, 304 bird, 20 amphibian, 62 reptile, 37 fish and 179 butterfly and 217 invertebrate species. Read the full report here.
Source: IBN Live, Bhubaneswar.
