Bhubaneswar: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary authorities have spotted a pair of endangered wild dogs, a Schedule 1 protected species, amidst a concerning decline in their population.
As per reports, the sanctuary’s proximity to the forests of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh may have facilitated the migration of these wild dogs into the area.
On the other hand, forest officials believe that the availability of abundant food and water during the monsoon has led the wild dogs to explore new areas.
After a gap of over a decade, wild dogs re-emerged in Debrigarh Sanctuary during the winter of 2023. Initially, only one individual was spotted, but a breakthrough came on July 14 when a pair – a male and a female – was captured on camera traps, according to sources closed to the sanctuary.
The recent sighting has sparked optimism that Debrigarh Sanctuary could potentially become a permanent habitat for these magnificent creatures.
Notably, Debrigarh is home to herbivores like Indian gaur, sambar, deer, wild boar, cheetal and chowsingha.