Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Kendrapada, July 30:

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapada district will be opened for the tourists from August 1 after a break of three months in view of the crocodile breeding season.

crocodile nesting

The Park was closed for three months since May 1 for the breeding of saltwater crocodiles.

“In view of the breeding of the estuarine crocodiles, visit to the Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks inside the park premises was prohibited till July 31,” DFO, Rajnagar Wildlife Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya said.

The saltwater crocodiles tend to very aggressive during breeding season at this time of the year and attack people without provocation. Hence, considering the safety of the tourists, the Forest department had closed the park till July 31. The park will be opened for the tourists from August 1, he said.

He further added that the prohibitory order is being imposed to ensure a tranquil environment for the crocodiles who generally turn violent during the mating period.

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.