AN ACCOUNT OF THE MAMMALIAN FAUNA OF CHANDAKA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ORISSA

Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary (Map-I) is situated in Cuttack and Khurda district of Orissa, covering an area of 193. 39 sq. km. (including the mining area) and lies between latitudes 20° 16' 05" to 20° 26' 03" N and longitudes 85° 34' 42" to 85° 49' 30" E. Chandaka-Dampara forest was declared a WiJdJife Sanctuary during 1983-84. It is very close (25 km North-east) to the capital city of Bhubaneswar and can be approached by road via Khandagiri.


INTRODUCTION
Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary (Map-I) is situated in Cuttack and Khurda district of Orissa, covering an area of 193.39 sq.km.(including the mining area) and lies between latitudes 20° 16' 05" to 20° 26' 03" N and longitudes 85° 34' 42" to 85° 49' 30" E. Chandaka-Dampara forest was declared a WiJdJife Sanctuary during 1983-84.It is very close (25 km North-east) to the capital city of Bhubaneswar and can be approached by road via Khandagiri.
In connection with the study of elephants in Chandaka Sanctuary, the authors visited the area many times between January, 1995 to June, 1997.The present paper is an attempt to provide a checklist of the mammalian fauna of the sanctuary as no list of the mammalian species of the Sanctuary is available till date.This paper is based on a series of observations by the authors as well as by enquiring the chand aka forest department staffs.

TOPOGRAPHY & DRAINAGE
The terrain is generally undulating which is broken by small low hills.North-western portions of the reserve are hilly with moderate to steep slopes, whereas the eastern portion is mostly gentle to moderately slopy.The central portion is relatively flat with little undulations.The altitude ranges from 42 m (Chandaka) to 217 m (Pandari Mundia) above mean sea level (Mishra & Sarangi, 1984).
The area is drained by non-perennial streams.Soil is devoid of humus due to excessive grazing hy cattles and removal of trees from many areas.Lateritic soil of various types-clay to sandy loam.Soil depth is good.

CLIMATE
The climate is suh-tropical.Rainfall is between 1200-1400 mm.Average rainfall was 1238 mm .The temperature varies from 10°-42° C. The area experiences three distinct seasons viz., Rainy (nlid June to mid Oct.), Winter (mid Nov. to mid Jan.) and Summer (March to May).

VEGETATION
Chandaka is a mixed tropical dry Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous type of forest where bamboo occupies more than 20% of the area.Other tree species includes Shorea robusta, Cassia fistula, Tectolla grandis, Grewia tiliaefolia, Aegle marmelosa, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia belarica, Careya aroborea, Xylia xylocarpa, Dalbergia sisso, etc.The forest is presently covered mostly by shrubby/ bushy vegetation and covers more than 40% of the forest area (Roy, et. aI., 1992).Mimosa pudiea and a wide variety of grasses including Chrysopogoll aeiculata.Typha elephantina, Cynodon daetlon etc. are present which forms the food of elephants, the dominant animal species of this Sanctuary.The species marked with * & ** are included in the Schedule I and Schedule IT of the Indian WildHfe Act (1972), respectively.The distribution of the various species have been taken mainly from Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951), Pocock (1941)
Distributioll : India: Widely distributed in the Indian/Union, north to Jammu and east to Nagaland.Also reported from Andaman Nicobar Island (1;)as et al., 1991).
Remarks : Seen in small group (3-4) on trees and rocky caves.Spotted near Bansberna and Bualigarh in the evening hours.
Distribution: India: Peninsular India, north to Jammu and Kashmir, east to Northeastern states, also Car Nicobar Island.Distribution: India: The Himalayas, Assam and Northern and Central India and in South upto river Tapti in west and Godavari in east.
Remarks : Very common species in the sanctuary.More than 7 troops have been spotted.Remarks : Common and can be seen on road sides during the evening and morning hours.Spotted near Deras, Jhalara, Nuakua, Behentashi, Kheluachua, Ambakhali temple and Dahanigarhia.
Distribution : India : Throughout the Indian mainland.
Elsewhere : Southwestern, Central and Southern Asia to Thailand including Sri Lanka, Northern and Eastern Africa, south to Senegal, Nigeria and Tanzania, Southeastern Europe.Remarks : Not very common.Reported by forest staff from Nuakua.
Distribution : In India they occur in Himalayan zone and peninsular India.
Elsewhere : Central and Eastern Asia from the Altai mountain and Manchuria southward through the forest regions of India and Malayan countries.
Common species in Chandaka, particularly near Rest houses and Beat offices.Spotted at Jhalara, Ambilo, Godibari, Dahanigarhia and Kumarkhundi.Not common; found in bushes, crevices or under'litter in forest, looking for food.Spotted near roadside bushes on way to Nuakua.