Seven Iconic Wild Animals Found In Odisha And Where To See Them

Greater Flamingo birds in Chilika Lake, Odisha. Image credit: PixaHive 

The east Indian state of Odisha has a fascinating array of wildlife. From the dolphins playing in Chilika Lake to the blackbucks of Bhetnoi, the elephants roaming across the state, and the Olive Ridley turtles nesting on its beaches, Odisha is a must-explore destination for any wildlife lover. Here are seven iconic species of animals found in Odisha.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting on a beach. Image credit: claudio giovenzana www.longwalk.it via Wikimedia Commons

Every year, Odisha's coasts witness a fascinating phenomenon - arribada - the mass congregation of Olive Ridley sea turtles for nesting on the beaches. The three main areas where these turtles nest in Odisha are the mouth of the Rushikulya River in Ganjam, Gahirmatha Beach, and the mouth of the Devi River in Puri. In 2023, over six lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles arrived in Odisha for nesting. These turtles use their hind flippers to dig conical-shaped nests in the sand, which are around a foot and a half deep. There, they lay their egg clutch and cover the nest with sand. The females then leave and enter the sea to swim to their foraging area. In the nests, the incubation temperature determines the sex in these turtles. After an incubation period of around 45 to 55 days, hatchlings emerge and swim towards the sea. Thus, a new life generation of Olive Ridleys starts their life. 

The Olive Ridley turtle is listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List and suffers from many threats to its survival. Death as bycatch in fishing, coastal development activities causing disturbances in nesting beaches and coastal waters, climate change, pollution, predation of eggs by feral dogs and other predators, collection of eggs by people, etc., are some of the threats.

Blackbuck

A male blackbuck leaping in the grassland. Image credit: Photo by Munna Mandalapu via Pexels.com.

A unique conservation story has unfolded in the Bhetnoi village in Odisha's Ganjam District. Decades back, the area was suffering from a severe drought. However, the rainfall occurred after a small group of blackbucks was spotted in the area. The villagers connected the two events and believed the blackbucks were lucky for them. From then on, Bhetnoi and surrounding villagers offered protection to blackbucks in their area, and the animals thrived. Today, there are over 6500 blackbucks in the area. Even today, the beliefs of the villagers remain strong and even though blackbucks sometimes damage their crops, they do not cause any harm to the species. These elegant antelopes can be seen grazing in fields very close to village people as the trust between people and animals of Bhetnoi is very strong. 

The community-led conservation scene in Bhetnoi is quite unique because while Bishnois are known to protect them in their lands in northern India, no single community but villages full of people of mixed caste and creed ensure protection to the blackbucks in Bhetnoi.

Irrawaddy Dolphins

An Irrawaddy dolphin. Image credit: Stefan Brending via Wikimedia.com.

The Chilika Lake of Odisha is home to rare and endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, an oceanic dolphin species. The lake is home to the single largest population of the species. As per the 2021 count, there are 156 Irrawaddy dolphins in the lake, which is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia. Regular boat rides operate from Satapada on the lake's southern shores to take tourists on dolphin-watching tours. Sightings, however, depend on luck. The sheltered waters of the lagoon offer rare chances of encounters with sharks, one of the main predators of dolphins. There is also a plentiful food supply, including both brackishwater and freshwater fish. These factors render Chilika an ideal habitat for these marine cetaceans.

Elephant

 Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary. Image credit: Devopam via Wikimedia Commons.

As of 2024, Odisha has an elephant population of 2,103. Dhenkanal district has the largest elephant population in the state, followed by Keonjhar, Athgarh, Deogarh, and Angul. The Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary near the state capital of Bhubaneshwar is dedicated to protecting elephants, but viewing elephants here is a matter of luck due to the thick jungles in the sanctuary. The state is home to 14 elephant corridors that need urgent protection. Elephants in Odisha are currently facing habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Death by electrocution and railway accidents are the biggest threats to elephants in Odisha today.

Saltwater Crocodile

A large saltwater crocodile in Bhitarkanika National Park. Image credit: Bodhan Nayek via Wikimedia Commons.

The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara District is famous for its thriving population of saltwater crocodiles. These are the largest crocodilians, attaining massive sizes of up to 20 feet. They are known for their aggressive nature and can easily attack and kill humans. Bhitarkanika and its surrounding areas have a population of around 1,811 saltwater crocodiles, one of the highest in the country. They are protected in the national park. Boat rides through Bhitarkanika's many channels, creeks, and estuaries can reveal these crocodiles basking in the sun along the mangrove-lined mud banks of the park.

Waterfowl

Northern pintail duck in Mangalajodi, Odisha. Image credit: Soumyadeep Chatterjee via Wikimedia Commons.

The small village of Mangalajodi, based on the northern shores of Chilika Lake, is a haven for migratory birds. Every year, lakhs of birds belonging to over 200 species from far-off places like Siberia and Mongolia arrive in the wetlands near the village for wintering. Once a hub of poachers, now the villagers have shifted from poaching the birds for meat to promoting tourism there. It is important, however, to prevent Mangalajodi from becoming a mass tourism spot to preserve the ecosystem's sanctity and to continue attracting the birds. Some of the waterfowl species found here include the Northern pintail, Northern shoveler, tufted pochard, red-crested pochard, common moorhen, and others.

Black Indian Tiger

A black tiger of Simlipal Tiger Reserve. Image credit: Government of Odisha via Wikimedia Commons.

Odisha is known for the pseudo-melanistic tigers of Simlipal, or black tigers with darker stripes on the body, due to a higher-than-normal production of the melanin pigment. The tiger population of the state, as per the state census conducted from 2023-24, is 30 adults with eight cubs. Twenty-seven of these tigers and all eight cubs are found in the state's Simplipal Tiger Reserve. The state's Satkosia Tiger Reserve, however, does not have any tigers.