Kendrapara: The Divisional Forest Officer of Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar, has issued notice for tourists and the general public not to plan their visit to the Bhitarkanika National Park from May 1 to July 31.
As per the notice, the Bhitarkanika National Park /Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary will remain closed during this period keeping in mind the breeding and nesting activities of estuarine crocodiles.
During this period, tourists will be barred from visiting the crocodile-infested areas at Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks under Bhitarkanika. The notice stated that the visitors may disrupt the reptiles might be disturbed during their nesting and breeding season.
The prohibition order is imposed on the tourists every year as during the nesting and breeding season as the tourists and visitors might disturb the tranquil environment of the crocodiles’ habitat in the park area.
If the reptiles are disturbed during the nesting and breeding period, they become more violent and majority of crocodile attacks occurs during the nesting season.
Last year, the Bhitarakanika National Park authority had spotted 101 nests of estuarine crocodile in Kanika, Gahirmatha, Mahakalapada and Rajnagar Wildlife Forest Range Divisions under Bhitarkanika National park.
As many as 1,742 estuarine crocodiles, including four reptiles measuring more than 20 feet were housed within the Bhitarkanika National Park, said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, DFO of Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar.
PNN
