Kendrapara: Nesting process of the estuarine crocodiles has started in the Bhitarkanika National Park. The forest personnel have recently spotted 24 crocodile nests in Kanika forest range within the national park limits.
The nests were sighted in Chintamani Mohanty creek, Thanapati, Mangalpur, Saguna Chera creek, Jalahar creek and Bhitarkanika Patia creek, said forest officials.
Crocodiles lay eggs near water bodies inside the mangroves of Bhitarkanika and guard the eggs till the emergence of hatchlings, said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, DFO of Rajnagar mangrove (forest) and wildlife division.
The crocodiles lay eggs by creating mount like nests with mangrove leaves. Hatchlings emerge from the nests after 60 to 70 days.
The Rajnagar mangrove (forest) and wildlife division has imposed a three-month ban, from May 1 to July 31, on the entry of visitors to Bhitarkanika National Park in view of the crocodile nesting season.
The riverside villagers have been asked to inform the forest personnel in case they spot a crocodile outside the park area as the man-crocodile conflict and the consequent loss of human lives are most frequently recorded during the nesting season.
Lethal assault by the reptiles and retaliatory attack by humans have become a regular feature in this coastal part of the state.
In the last year’s nesting season, 82 nests of estuarine crocodiles were spotted in Bhitarkanika. The creeks, nullahs and other water bodies of Bhitarkanika National Park are home to as many as 1698 estuarine
crocodiles.
