In the year 1996-97, an environment group called Wild Odisha was constituted by a number of residents from around Chilika Lake. These residents were concerned about the incidents of bird hunting and their impact on the bird population. A unique initiative in involving one-time poachers to undertake wildlife conservation, Mangalajodi has attracted the attention of many people from far and wide. This experiment at Mangalajodi was recognized by the state government of Odisha when the Chief Minister of Odisha awarded the Pakhshi Bandhu Award to the Sri Mahavir Pakshi Surakshya Samiti of Mangalajodi during the wildlife week celebrations of 2001.