......Introduction

The Sunabeda WildLife Sanctuary located between longitude 82 degree 20'00'E and 82 degree 34'42"E & latitude 20 degree 24'N and 24 degree 44'N in Nuapada District of Orissa, sharing common border with Chhatisgarh State, is an excellent natural habitat of endangered flora and fauna. It was declared as Sanctuary in the year 1983 with total georgaphical area of 600 sq. KM. Mostly dry deciduous forests with enchanting hill ranges, the heart-throbbing cliffs, extensive plateu, scaterred grasslands, magnificent waterfalls & gorges, and primitive tribes are fascinating attraction of Sunabeda Sanctuary. Besides, the Maraguda Valley, Jumalgarh Fort with traces of ancient civilization and River Jonk are adding to rich cultural heritage of Orissa. This Sanctuary, being the source of origin and catchment of Jonk, Sunder and Indra rivers, plays an important role in socio-economic development of the locality.