Contents: I. A profile of Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary: 1. Introduction. 2. Location. 3. Topography. 4. Drainage. 5. Geology, rock and soil. 6. Natural, physiographic, historical and archeological features. 7. Climate. 8. Seasons. 9. Vegetation. 10. Fauna. 11. The people. 12. Agriculture and land use pattern. 13. Tourism. 14. References. II. Mammalia. III. Aves. IV. Reptilia. V. Amphibia. VI. Fishes.

From the preface: "Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Khurda and Cuttack districts of Orissa, consists of semi-evergreen forest, dry mixed deciduous forest and bamboo brakes. Elephants form the most important vertebrate of these forests. Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary has an area of 193.39 sq km with a very rich biodiversity, and especially along with its elephant population, was elevated to a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983. However, due to its proximity (25 km) to the capital city of Bhubaneshwar and the increasing human population, the anthropogenic pressure on the forest has increased considerably during recent years. A stringent conservation measure is needed for the protection of the biodiversity of this Wildlife Sanctuary.

"The Zoological Survey of India has so far published the faunal inventory of two conservation areas of Orissa viz. Simlipal Tiger Reserve and Chilka Lake. Studies on the faunal diversity of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary has been negligible except for Tiwari et al. (1998) on mammals of the Sanctuary. Hence, to conserve the rich faunal diversity of the Sanctuary, an extensive study was undertaken between 1995 and 1998, and the present volume covers a comprehensive account of the vertebrate fauna of the said Sanctuary. This document is therefore, the first ever consolidated account of the vertebrates occurring in the Sanctuary. The present volume includes a systematic account of 37 species of mammals, 167 species of birds, 33 species of reptiles, 13 species of amphibians and 28 species of fishes. Almost all groups are represented by coloured photographs for most of the species recorded in the respective chapters."