Kendrapada: The population of crocodiles in Bhitarkanika National Park and Satkosia sanctuary in Odisha has gone up as per the latest census.
The population of saltwater or estuarine crocodiles in and around Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapada district has marginally increased this year. There are 1,811 crocodiles in the park, according to forest officials who conducted the annual census. Last year, the crocodiles numbered 1,793.
The Forest department formed 22 teams in 51 segments to count estuarine crocodiles in all creeks and rivers within the park and its nearby areas. The census was conducted from January 10 to 12, a suitable time to count the animals owing to the peak winter, exposure of more than 50 per cent of mud banks and the lunar cycle, said divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika National Park, Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav.
Bhitarkanika is the second-largest mangrove forest in the country after the Sundarbans in West Bengal. Both areas are among the three strongholds of saltwater crocodiles — the largest reptiles in the world — in India, the third being the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The headcount drive was conducted under the supervision of wildlife personnel. The enumerators, assisted by trained local forest staff and some herpetologists including noted crocodile researcher Sudhakar Kar, covered the Bhitarkanika river system as well as innumerable creeks, water inlets and nullahs.
During the census, the teams sighted 582 hatchlings (two feet in length), 387 yearlings (2-3 feet), 327 juveniles (3-6 feet), 167 sub-adults (6-8 feet long) and 348 adults (more than 8 feet long), sources said.
Apart from Bhitarkanika, the population of crocodiles in Satkosia has also increased this year.
As per information shared by Satkosia DFO Saroj Kumar Panda, there were 81 muggers and seven gharials in the gorge sanctuary last year. This year, the population of mugger crocodiles has increased to 97 while that of gharials has gone up to 14.
However, the the number of birds visiting the Satkosia sanctuary has declined. Last year, around 3,800 birds were sighted while their number came down to 3,330 of 81 species this year.
The crocodile census was carried out from January 6 to 8, while the bird counting was conducted on January 10.
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