A drive by the Forest Department to demolish illegal prawn dykes inside the Bhitarkanika National Park was halted on Wednesday after villagers staged a protest at Karandiapatana village under Mahakalapada Forest Range in Odisha's Kendrapara district, claiming they have depended on shrimp farming for their livelihood for decades.
With the southwest monsoon gaining momentum, thousands of residential water birds have descended on Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district, marking the onset of the annual nesting and breeding season in one of the state's largest heronries.
A giant saltwater crocodile was spotted in a canal in a village in close proximity of Bhitarkanika national park on Monday morning with the reptile later captured by forest officials and safely released into its natural habitat.
The 16-foot-long male crocodile was netted from the canal at Jarimula village in Odisha's Kendrapara district after a four-hour-long operation involving six forest personnel.
The Bhitarkanika National Park authorities in Odisha’s Kendrapara district have reclaimed around 11 hectares of forest land which was under the unlawful occupation of prawn culturists in an ongoing drive.
The incident took place at Baulakani village under Mahakalpada forest range when the inland fisherman Deba Kumar Mandal was dragged to the water by a crocodile when he had entered into the water to spread out the fishing net.
As per the salt-water crocodile estimation-2026 report released on Monday, a total of 1,858 estuarine crocodiles were recorded, indicating an increase of 32 crocodiles compared to the previous census.
The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district has reestablished itself as a congenial habitat of resident water birds, maintaining a stable nesting population of winged species, a senior official said today.
Saltwater crocodiles are covered under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The flora and fauna showcased in the centre include conservation measures initiated for crocodiles in their natural habitat and the rich mangrove diversity in Bhitarkanika wetland sites.
