Home / Environment / Bison Festival Goes Wild with Night Camping
Bison Festival Goes Wild with Night Camping
9 Mar
Summary
- Second bison festival held at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Night camping offered as a new unique experience.
- Bison population increased to an estimated 848 individuals.
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary recently hosted its second annual bison festival, attracting over 600 participants from surrounding districts. This year's event introduced night camping, allowing attendees to experience the sanctuary's wilderness after dark, including stargazing opportunities over the Hirakud wetland.
The festival included expert talks on the Indian bison, a wildlife documentary screening, and a drawing competition for students themed around bison conservation. Awards were also presented to forest staff for their frontline conservation work in protecting the gaur.
Participants engaged in a 2.5-hour gaur safari within the sanctuary. Debrigarh has become a vital conservation area for Indian bison in eastern India, with its population estimated at 848, an increase of nearly 190 in the past year. Officials emphasized ongoing habitat management and monitoring for healthy wildlife.
The event underscored the significance of the Indian bison as one of India's mega herbivores and a key species in Odisha's wildlife. Future conservation efforts will focus on maintaining the sex ratio and habitat quality.
