Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife sanctuary in the state of Odisha, India

19°51′43″N 86°02′52″E / 19.8619°N 86.0477°E / 19.8619; 86.0477Area87 square kilometres (34 sq mi) ^[2]Established1984www.wildlife.odisha.gov.in/WebPortal/PA_Balukhand-Konark.aspx

The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in the Indian state of Odisha.^[3]

The sanctuary has an area of 87 km², and is located along the Bay of Bengal coast, between the towns of Puri and Konark.^[2] The sanctuary includes sandy beaches, coastal dunes, groves of introduced Casuarina trees planted in 1916–17, and cashew plantations.^[3] Little of the native flora remains. The sanctuary was designated in 1984.^[4] This place is extremely suitable for the development of ecological tourism.^[5]

The sanctuary is home to a herd of Blackbuck and Spotted Deer. Other animals found in the sanctuary include monkey, squirrel, jungle cat, hyena, jackal, mongoose and variety of birds and reptiles. Olive ridley sea turtles nest on the beaches.^[3]

References

^ "Balukhand Konark". Protected Planet. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Balukhand-Konark PA :: Odisha Wildlife Organisation". wildlife.odisha.gov.in. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary". Odisha Forest Development Corporation. Accessed 29 July 2014. [1] Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Balukhand-Konark conservation program." Wild Orissa. Accessed 29 July 2014. [2]
^ "Balukhand-Konark PA :: Odisha Wildlife Organisation". www.wildlife.odisha.gov.in. Retrieved 18 May 2021.