Kendrapada- The Bhitarkanika National Park will remain close for a period of eight days for tourists from coming 14th January to 22nd January, 2025 next as the forest department is going to carry out the status survey of Estuarine crocodile -2025 . As a result, the Park is going to remain close during this stipulated period for the tourists , said Gopinath Sudarshan Jadav, the DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and wildlife Division.
The prohibition order on the visitors is going to be imposed during this stipulated period with an aim to prevent the noise pollution during the status survey of Estuarine crocodile – 2025 to facilitate the census operation smoothly in a tranquil atmosphere, added DFO,Jadav.
The head count drive of Salt water crocodile will be organised under the supervision of Dr. Sudhakar Kar, the crocodile Researcher and the DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and wildlife Division .The entire day and night census operation will be monitored and supervised by the Technical expert ,deputed from the Wildlife Headquarters .
The enumerators, will assist by the trained local forest staff are going to cover the Bhitarkanika river system besides innumerable creeks, water inlets ,nullahs ,where the reptiles found abundant during the census time. The salt water crocodile, being amphibious in nature, can be counted directly both on land , while basking on the river bed, and on water surfaces while floating. During day time crocodiles basking on land are easier to count and their size class can be estimated easily and accurately. At night , crocodiles less than 6 feet floating on water or resting on land can be counted by using a spot light and catching the reflected ‘ruby red” glow from their eyes. However either during the day time or night time census, only a proportion of crocodiles will be visible at any one time, others will submerged on water.
The Bhitarkanika National Park authority is going organize the census operation of Salt water crocodile both traditional method and also adopting the new technologically based mobile application – polygon search method like last year aiming to ensure the density of crocodile population, said Manas Kumar Das, the Ranger of Kanika Forest Range .
As many as 1811 numbers of Estuarine crocodiles were spotted in and outside the water bodies of Rajnagar Mangrove forest Division(wildlife) during last year’s head count drive of estuarine crocodile.
Input & Photos : Rajesh Kumar Behera
