Photograph by   In the northeastern Indian state of Orissa Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   8,600 square miles (22,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of New Hampshire Critical/Endangered

· Large Animals of Orissa Forests
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern

Large Animals of Orissa Forests

The low hills of the Indian state of Orissa are partly covered with semi-evergreen forests. Beneath the trees are evergreen shrubs, canes, and herbaceous plants. The most impressive thing about this ecoregion is the number of large animals that live here. Tigers, Asian elephants, and large herds of gaur all share the woodlands.

Special Features

The full force of the southwestern monsoon winds sweep across this ecoregion, bringing with them the rainfall that creates a much moister climate than the areas to the west. This creates a rich habitat for many animals and helps serve as a corridor connecting other habitats. For example, scientists think that Orissaās higher-elevation forests may provide one of the last migratory routes for elephants as they travel from Simlipal in the north to Andhra Pradesh in the south.

	Large herds of gaur roam the forests of Orissa. Although these wild oxen can weigh nearly three times as much as a tiger, a single tiger can still bring a gaur down.

Wild Side

A relatively low number of mammal species live in this ecoregion. Wild dogs are one of the 58 species. Working in packs, the dogs are efficient in bringing down their prey and have been known to chase leopards from their kills. Bird species are more numerous, at 215. You can watch Oriental darters fly overhead while flocks of long-legged greater flamingos feed in shallow waters.

Cause for Concern

The poverty of people living here is the driving force behind the clearing of forests. Trees are cut for fuelwood and to make room for crops and pastureland. More than 95 percent of this regionās habitat has been cleared, leaving behind just scattered patches of forest.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.