Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district reopened for visitors today. The park was closed for tourists from January 9 to 11 for crocodile population survey.
According to reports, the population of estuarine crocodiles is on a marginal rise at Bhitarkanika National Park. As many as 1793 crocodiles were sighted in and outside the water bodies of Rajanagar Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife).
As per the status survey report, total 569 hatchlings, 388 yearlings, 325 juveniles, 166 sub-adults and 345 adult crocodiles were spotted.
Bhitarkanika is said to house 70% of India’s estuarine crocodile or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975. Bhitarakanika is one of the richest storehouses of mangrove genes. Researchers have come across 11 of the 70 mangrove species, which were facing threat of extinction in the world, in Bhitarakanika.
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