The recent death of six elephants due to Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) in Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary located in Odisha’s Kalahandi district has brought this lethal disease into the limelight. This incident not only indicates the vulnerability of these magnificent creatures but also raises questions about the ecosystem they inhabit.
Understanding Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS)
HS is a fatal disease that strikes animals coming into contact with contaminated water or soil, harbouring the deadly bacteria Pasteurella multocida. The bacteria primarily infects the respiratory tract and lungs of the animals, leading to severe pneumonia.
This disease has a significant impact on water buffalo, cattle, and bison, with an exceedingly high mortality rate among those infected. A recent event saw 40 buffaloes succumbing to the infection in Odisha’s Kendrapara.
HS generally spreads in the period before and after the monsoons.
Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary: A Quick Overview
Spread over a vast area of 175 square kilometres in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, the Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is home to diverse flora and fauna. Its vegetation primarily consists of dry deciduous forest featuring Sal, Bija, Bamboo and numerous medicinal plants.
The sanctuary shelters mammals like elephants, leopards, gaurs, sambar, barking deer, Indian wolves and pangolin. Among birds, peacock, hornbill, red jungle fowl are some prominent species, while the reptilian population includes muggers, crocodiles, and monitor lizards.
Phurlijharan waterfall, situated within the sanctuary, serves as a vibrant water body.
Significant Protected Areas in Odisha
Odisha hosts several vital protected areas preserving a wide array of plant and animal species.
National Parks include Bhitarkanika National Park, home to the largest congregation of endangered SaltWater Crocodiles in India, and Simlipal National Park, known for its abundance of Semul or red silk cotton trees.
Among wildlife sanctuaries, Badrama WLS stands out with its moist Sal forests, and Chilika (Nalaban island) WLS is appreciated as Asia’s largest lagoon. The latter recently reported direct sightings of a school of Irrawaddy dolphins.
Hadgarh WLS houses mugger crocodiles in Salandi river that runs through it. Baisipalli WLS is notable for its Sal dominated forest, hosting tigers, leopards, elephants, and herbivores like Chousingha.
Kotagarh WLS is marked by dense deciduous forests and grasslands. Nandankanan WLS is the first globally to breed the White tiger and Melanistic tiger. Lakhari Valley WLS holds a large number of elephants. Gahirmatha (Marine) WLS is the only turtle sanctuary in Odisha, renowned for being a mass nesting spot in the Indian Ocean region. Remarkably, Olive Ridley turtles travel across the South Pacific to breed on the Gahirmatha coast.
