Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park reopens for tourists

Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district reopened for tourists today, after a three-month monsoon break.

The wildlife sanctuary was closed for a period of three months from May 1 in view of the breeding season of estuarine crocodiles, also known as saltwater crocodiles.

Visitors will be allowed to enter the mangrove wetland through Chandbali this time, apart from the existing Khola and Gupti routes, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bhitarkanika National Park, Bimal Prasanna Acharya said.

A record number of 103 saltwater crocodiles nested in the park this year against last year’s 101, he said.