Digapahandi: A crocodile census began Tuesday at Ghodahada Dam under the Berhampur Forest Division of the state Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.
The dam is witnessing a rise in crocodile population since 2022.
The three-day exercise is being conducted in the dam near Khamari gaon panchayat of Digapahandi block in Ganjam district.
As per the reports, the forest department has formed 25 teams for the census.
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More than 25 forest personnel have been deployed under the leadership of Digapahandi Ranger Santosh Bisoyi Ratna.
For the exercise, the dam area has been divided into 10 segments, and 16 water bodies have been identified.
According to previous counts by the department, the crocodile population at the dam stood at 76 in 2022.
The number rose to 81 in 2023, increased to 84 in 2024, and reached 87 during the 2025 census.
A training camp for the census teams was held Monday at the eco-retreat complex near the dam.
Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer Sunny Khokhar presided over the program. Assistant Conservator of Forests, Sasmita Biswal and Ganjam College botany department faculty member Mahendra Sethi served as trainers and briefed staff on census procedures.
