Gadchiroli : Months after historic rediscovery of the rare striated grassbird , documented in the region for the first time in more than a century, Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary in Gadchiroli is emerging as an important biodiversity haven, with latest sightings of a Malabar pied hornbill and smooth-coated otters further highlighting the ecological diversity of the landscape.




The Malabar pied hornbill was recorded inside the sanctuary on Monday. Its presence is significant for a habitat increasingly recognised for its mature riverine forests, as the large frugivorous bird depends on mature fruit-bearing trees and suitable natural cavities for nesting.




The striated grassbird was documented during a two-day citizen-science bird survey on Nov 29 and 30, 2025. A team led by ornithologists Raju Kasambe and Mangesh Balapure recorded two birds in tall grass near Pranhita river , which flows along Chaprala sanctuary. The record represents a major range extension in Maharashtra and is the southernmost known record of the species in India.




Spread across 134.78 sqkm, Chaprala is managed under the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve administration and lies along the Pranhita and Wainganga rivers. Its landscape combines riverbanks, dense riparian vegetation and deciduous woodland, creating habitat across both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.




The hornbill record comes soon after the sighting of smooth-coated otters along the sanctuary’s river stretches. Otters are regarded as useful indicators of riverine ecosystem health, with their presence generally associated with adequate prey availability, functioning aquatic systems and relatively undisturbed riverbanks.




The sanctuary also supports Indian giant squirrels (Shekaru), Maharashtra’s state animal, which depend on the tall canopy of the riverine forests. The wildlife assemblage extends to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, four-horned antelopes and Indian tree-shrews, indicating considerable habitat diversity within the sanctuary.




Forest officials said systematic seasonal surveys and field documentation would continue to build a more comprehensive inventory of Chaprala’s wildlife. Such surveys could also help identify critical habitats and strengthen conservation planning for the sanctuary’s riverine and forest ecosystems.