Bhitarkanika National Park Opens For Tourists

Photograph: Suprakash Mishra

Kendrapara: After remaining closed for nine days for the annual census of saltwater estuarine crocodiles and migratory birds, Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district was opened for tourists on Tuesday.

“The decision to close down the park for nine days from January 6 was taken to prevent the noise pollution during the census of the estuarine crocodile and facilitate the operation smoothly in a tranquil atmosphere,” DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and Wildlife Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya, said.

The DFO said that the annual census has revealed that the number of estuarine crocodiles in the park has gone up by 44 this year. As compared to 1,698 last year, 1,742 were spotted this year, he pointed out.

The crocodile census was taken up by eight teams under the direct supervision of the well-known crocodile expert of Odisha Dr Sudhakar Kar.

He, however, said that the number of migratory birds in the park had dropped by 3878 this year. As per the annual census report last year, a total of 1,12,083 migratory birds flocked to the park. However, the number of these avian guests has come down to 1,09,059 this year.

The bird census by 16 teams and led by the deputy director of the Bombay Natural History Society, Dr Balachandran was carried out in the wetland areas of the park, including Raipatia, Mathadia, Guptighata, Hansinaghata and Batighara.