Crocodile Nesting Season Starts In Odisha’s Bhitarkanika

Kendrapara: Forest personnel recently spotted 30 crocodile nests in Bhitarkanika National Park, indicating the start of the nesting season for the estuarine reptiles, a senior forest official said.

The nests were sighted in Chintamani Mohanty creek, Thanapati, Mangalpur, Saguna Chera creek, Jalahar creek, and Bhitarkanika Patia creek, the Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division DFO, Bikash Ranjan Das, informed.

Crocodiles lay eggs near water bodies inside the mangroves in Bhitarkanika and guard the eggs till the emergence of hatchlings from the nests after 60 to 70 days, the DFO said.

Das said that riverside villagers have been asked to inform forest personnel in case they spot a crocodile outside the parking area as man-crocodile conflicts and the consequent loss of human lives are most frequently recorded during the nesting season.

Last year, at least 103 nests of estuarine crocodiles were spotted at Kanika, Mahakalapada, Gahirmatha, and Rajnagar Wildlife Forest Range Divisions in Bhitarkanika National Park.

Also Read: Crocodile Population Up By 15 In Bhitarkanika This Year, Park Opens For Public