Post News Network
Nilagiri, June 14: Kuladiha wildlife sanctuary, one of the tourist attractions of the state in Nilagiri sub-division in Balasore district, will remain closed for tourists from Monday owing to monsoon season.
It will reopen in November, said field officer Rabindra Kumar Mohapatra. The sanctuary draws a large number of tourists from various parts of the country and abroad. The 271-75 sq/km forest, which got wildlife sanctuary status in 1984, is home to a wide range of wild animals like elephants, leopard, bears, deer, barking deer, boars, sambars, hares, porcupines, flying squirrels, civets, wild cats, pythons, king cobras, cobras and mongoose. The sanctuary holds its charm for tourists for to its pristine beauty—the lay of the land marked by luxuriantly grown trees, bushes and streamlets.
The forest department has made various facilities like watch towers for tourists. In 2013-14, a total of 5,304 tourists had visited the sanctuary fetching revenue of Rs 2,60,595 for the forest department. A total number of 6,426 tourists visited the sanctuary till June 14 this year.
