Bhubaneswar, January 19: The crocodile census at Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district commenced on Sunday. The initiative, organized by the Forest Department, will run until January 22.
According to official sources, 22 teams have been deployed to conduct the count across the park’s creeks, rivers, and wetland areas in four designated ranges and nearby regions.
To avoid disturbances during the census, the national park has been temporarily closed to visitors. This restriction also helps reduce noise pollution, which could interfere with the counting process.
Bhitarkanika is home to around 70% of India's estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles. Conservation efforts for these reptiles began in the park in 1975. The current population of saltwater crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary stands at 1,811, a figure that has steadily increased due to ongoing conservation efforts by the state Forest Department.