| Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Alt Name: | Oriya: କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣାଳୟ |
| Iucn Category: | IV |
| Map: | Odisha |
| Map Alt: | Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Nearest City: | Balasore |
| Area Km2: | 272.75 |
| Visitation Num: | 6340 |
| Visitation Year: | 2015 |
| Visitation Ref: | [1] |
| Governing Body: | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Odisha |
| Website: | |
The Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary (Odia: କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ଅଭୟାରଣ୍ୟ) is situated in the Balasore district of Odisha, India. The sanctuary is spread across 272.750NaN0 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.
Kuldiha was declared a sanctuary on 4 January 1984.[2] It is known for the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve that spreads across Simlipal, Kuldiha and Hadgarh wildlife reserves.[3] Locally in Kuldiha, the elephant reserve is known as Tenda Elephant Reserve.[4] [5]
The sanctuary offers night-stay accommodation at Kuldiha entrance, Jadachua and Rishia in the form of huts, tents and a few concrete houses. There is a watch tower at Garsimulia for tourists to view animals in the reserve.[6] It is usually closed during the peak of the monsoon season.
A major fire was reported in early 2012 that engulfed both Simlipal and Kuldiha forests, causing significant damage to their flora and fauna.[7] Following this on, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared the sanctuary an ecologically sensitive zone.[8]
The sanctuary primarily consists of a mixed deciduous forest where the Sal tree is the dominant species. The habitat harbors a wide range of wildlife, including tigers, gaurs, sambars, peafowls and various migratory birds.
Odisha's government recognised the environmental damage to the area committed by private operators and started using a PPP model ecotourism focus. The Kuldiha sanctuary is operated as a community-based ecotourism model.[9] [10] [11] [12]