Bhubaneswar: In a conservation-focused initiative, the Forest Department has installed salt licks across forest areas in Nayagarh to support the health and sustainability of the blackbuck population.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Debarchan Behera said the salt licks are meant to provide essential sodium chloride to wild animals, which is often deficient in their natural diet. “Salt licks have been set up by the forest division to provide sodium chloride to the animals. As a result, animals regularly visit these spots to consume salt,” he said.
Officials noted that the Nayagarh forest division is home to rich wildlife diversity, including blackbucks as well as species such as leopards, black panthers, and elephants. The salt licks not only help meet nutritional needs but also aid forest staff in monitoring animal movement and overall health.
The initiative forms part of broader wildlife management and habitat enrichment efforts aimed at ensuring balanced nutrition, reducing stress on animals, and strengthening conservation outcomes in the region’s reserve forests.
-OdishaAge
