Bhubaneswar: A total of 1,811 saltwater crocodiles have been counted at Bhitarkanika National Park this year against 1,793 counted last year.
“The crocodile census at Bhitarkanika Sanctuary is complete. This year the number of crocodiles has increased to 1811 compared to 1793 last year i.e increase of 18 numbers. Growth in numbers has been reported in Hatchlings mainly,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife, Susanta Nanda said in X.
The number of estuarine crocodiles in water bodies of the Bhitarkanika river system and Mahanadi deltaic region was 1811 this year. The growth in numbers has been mainly reported in hatchlings but other size segments have also reported slight growth compared to last year, officials said.
As per the census, of the 1,811 crocodiles, 582 (32 per cent) are in the hatchling group, while 387 (21 per cent) are yearlings, 327 (19 per cent) are juveniles, 167 (9 per cent) are sub-adults and 348 (19 per cent) are adults.
Lala Aswini K Singh, a wildlife expert, congratulated the Forest Department officials for their dedicated effort in conservation of crocodiles of Bhitarkanika. A near stable adult population is good from all aspects, he said.
The annual crocodile estimation exercise was conducted by 22 teams in Bhitarkanika National Park, Gahirmatha Sanctuary and Mahanadi deltaic areas from January 10 to 12.
The census was conducted both during the day and at night. Favourable weather conditions this year resulted in better sightings of crocodiles in rivers and creeks, he said.
Estuarine crocodiles are also found in West Bengal’s Sundarbans, which has the country’s largest mangrove cover. Besides the mangrove wetlands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also home to these species.
However, the wild habitats in Bhitarkanika have the highest density and population of saltwater crocodiles.
Odisha is the only state in the country which has gharial, mugger and saltwater crocodiles in the wild. The state government launched a conservation programme for these crocodile species in 1975.
