Permanent Pictorial Cancellation inaugural day covers

Description: Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Balmedhi, Jonk and Mahanadi Rivers are the lifeline of this sanctuary which flows along the sanctuary to meet the water shortage of the sanctuary. It is about 45 km from Mahasamund city. It was established in 1976 under the Wildlife Protection Act. Its name is derived from Bar and Navapara village. Barnawapara Sanctuary has attracted tourists from the country and abroad since its establishment. 

The sanctuary has dominant vegetation of teak, sal and mixed forest. It has a good density of prey and predators to maintain the ecosystem. The Balar reservoir located inside the sanctuary supports many wetland birds and fish. This sanctuary promotes ecotourism to the public. Where the presence of Indian wild buffalo is evident in the sanctuary and it can be seen frequently. Indian wild buffalo is the state animal of Chhattisgarh. It is a large bovine species. This animal is the ancestor of domestic buffalo and is genetically invaluable. The total population of this animal worldwide is only 4,000, half of which live in India. 

This animal is also important for the ecosystem as it helps in the rejuvenation of grasslands. Other animals found here are sloth bears, wild dogs, porcupines, wild cats, foxes, striped hyenas and barking deer. There are more than 150 species of birds here including many migratory species. Some of them are peacocks, jungle fowl and crow pheasant. Bamboo forms a rich and dense understory throughout the forest. The bright white Kulu (Sterculia aureus) trees scattered in different places in the forest stand out among the various shades of green. Fragments of old plantations of teak and understory bamboo, arranged according to age, add visual appeal to the general forest.