Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Kendrapara, Apr 27:

The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district will remain closed for visitors from May 1 to July 31 in view of the breeding season of estuarine crocodiles, also known as saltwater crocodiles, informed Bhitarkanika Divisional Forest Officer.

Visitors would be barred from entering Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks during the period.

Worth mentioning, the national park remains closed for visitors for three months every year as saltwater crocodiles become very aggressive during breeding season and attack people without provocation.

Notably, the park is home to as many as 1671 estuarine crocodiles. Every year, the forest officials collect eggs from the nesting sites for incubation under semi-natural conditions. For the conservation of the endangered species, the hatchlings are reared for a period of three years and then released into the wild.