Kendrapada: In view of the breeding season of estuarine crocodiles, Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapada district will remain out of bounds for tourists and visitors for three months (May 1 to July 31) from Sunday.
The prohibition is usually imposed at Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks of the wildlife sanctuary to allow disturbance-free annual nesting of crocodiles, which lays eggs on the surface. The ban on tourists is necessary as human interference can turn crocodiles violent.
Local forest dwellers have also been prohibited from entering the area for collecting honey and firewood.
Notably, Bhitarkanika houses 70 per cent of India’s estuarine crocodiles or saltwater crocodiles.
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