The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval to the proposal to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve (TR) following a notification by the Odisha state government.
Debrigarh will become the third tiger reserve in the state and the first in western Odisha. This tiger reserve area is spread over an area of 804.51 sq km.
Similipal and Satkosia are currently the only two notified TRs in the state.
Notably, a Royal Bengal Tiger was spotted at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time in five years on December 1, 2022.
A group of tourists spotted the young sub-adult tiger at the entrance of the sanctuary.
Forest department officials had then claimed that tigers from forests in neighboring Chhattisgarh often stray into Debrigarh and make the sanctuary their second home.
Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary are the newest 54th Tiger Reserve of India 2023, which is located in Chhattisgarh.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve is the first tiger reserve in India.
