Archive · 2 Jun 2025
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary Praised as Best Ecotourism in India
Imagine a beautiful forest where people help take care of animals and welcome visitors!
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha is like that.
People from the local community work there, leading tours and safaris.
They earn money, and the money helps protect the forest and the animals living there.
A special visitor, Amitabh Kant, said it's the best place like this in India because everyone works together to make it a success.
Visitors see lots of animals, and the place makes a lot of money that goes back into the community and helps the environment.
Amitabh Kant, the former NITI Aayog CEO, hailed Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as the best ecotourism project.
The sanctuary has a strong community-based model with 85 families directly involved in various activities.
Community members earn between ₹13,000 and ₹15,000 per month from ecotourism activities.
The sanctuary reported the highest revenue among all ecotourism sites in Odisha in 2024-25, at ₹5.11 crore.
Revenue sharing includes wages to community members, operational costs, infrastructure, village development, and conservation.
- Who
- Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO, praised the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
- What
- Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha is recognized as the best ecotourism destination in India.
- When
- Amitabh Kant visited on May 21.
- Where
- Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India.
- Why
- To promote conservation, provide livelihood for the local community, and offer a model for sustainable ecotourism.
- Location
- Odisha, India
- Type of Tourism
- Ecotourism
- Management Model
- Community-based
- Revenue
- ₹5.11 crore (2024-25)
- Community Wage Share
- 35%
- Number of Cottages
- 20