Kendrapara: In the ongoing nesting season, forest personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park have so far spotted 62 nests of estuarine crocodiles in Kanika range under the national park, said Rajnagar DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
However, not a single nest was sighted under Rajnagar, Gahirmatha and Mahakalapara ranges.
Out of 62 nests, five were sighted at Dangamala Crocodile Research Centre, officials said, adding each nest has 45 to 60 eggs.
The forest personnel are optimistic that more nests are going to be sighted in Kanika range.
Every year, the forest personnel collect some eggs from wild nests and eggs are incubated in captivity under semi-natural conditions. The hatchlings are reared for three years and then released into the wild. By way of ‘rear & release’ technique, the baby crocodiles after birth are released in the wild as a part of conservation programme of these endangered species.
The forest personnel have decided to collect 50 eggs in coming days from wild nests that are lying vulnerable due to tidal erosion. The eggs would be incubated at the artificial hatchery in Dangamala Crocodile Scheme, said Kanika ranger Akhaya Kumar Nayak.
Last year, Kanika forest personnel had collected 47 eggs from nests and hatched them artificially at Dangamala-based hatchery. Forty four hatchlings emerged out of the eggs, Nayak said.
Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division has imposed a three-month (May 1 to July 31) ban on entry of tourists to Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks in view of the nesting season.
The prohibition order is imposed as visitors might disturb the tranquil environment of the crocodile habitat. When disturbed during nesting season, the reptiles become violent as is evident from the fact that most of the crocodile attacks on people take place during nesting season. PNN
