Bhubaneswar: The Centre has approved the state government's proposal to declare boundary periphery areas of Sunabeda and Debrigarh wildlife sanctuaries as eco-sensitive zones (ESZ).

SAMBALPUR: There has been a rise in the number of leopards in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary. As per the tiger census undertaken in the Sanctuary in 2004, there were 21 leopards. However, preliminary reports of the census undertaken from May 3 to May 16 indicate the presence of more than 40 leopards in the Sanctuary.