National Parks with mangrove cover endured 'negligible damage' from Yaas
The Similipal National Park and the Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP) experienced negligible damage due to their dense tree cover as tropical Cyclone Yaas barreled through coastal and Northern Odisha, a forest department official said on Friday. Mangroves with their intricate root system that stabilizes the coastline emerged as a protective barrier in Bhitarkanika, and at Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district minimized the damage.
No loss of human and wildlife at Similipal
The very severe cyclonic storm, which hit the Odisha coast on May 26 with a wind speed of 130-140 kmph gusting to 150 kmph, had barreled through the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) from South-east to North-west direction. "However, there was no loss of human and wildlife. The damage caused to the forest properties and facilities was minimal," the state's forest and environment department said.
Property damage of over Rs. 11.50 lakh reported at SNP
A big wooden bridge, five small wooden bridges, six anti-poaching sheds, a causeway, and a concrete culvert were damaged in the SNP area. Besides the earthen road stretching up to 30 km suffered partial damage. Big trees and tourists' recreation facilities remained unharmed in the cyclonic fury. The cumulative loss of properties was estimated at Rs. 11.50 lakh as per a preliminary assessment.
Similipal Tiger Reserve is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger
Spread over 2,750 square km, the STR is the fourth largest tiger reserve in the country. The rich ecosystem is acclaimed as an ideal habitation corridor of Royal Bengal Tiger, elephants besides other wildlife. It attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Two spotted deers died at the Bhitarkanika National Park
The 145-km stretch of the BNP in Kendrapara district, a globally acclaimed Ramsar wetland site, also escaped the damage. The park, however, reported the death of two spotted deers while around 100 trees were uprooted in the national park and peripheral hamlets. Ten accommodation facilities of the forest department, six eco-tourism cottages, and a jetty at Habelikhati Island were also partially damaged.
Bhitarkanika National Park houses a rich plantation of mangroves
In the BNP, the barbed wire fencing along the mangrove plantation sites was damaged partially. The estimated loss of property is assessed at Rs. 48.37 lakh as per a preliminary assessment. Bhitarakanika is one of the richest storehouses of mangrove trees in the country. At least 11 of the 70 mangrove species, which were on the verge of extinction, are found in Bhitarakanika.
