Bhubaneswar: Welcoming visitors once again, the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapada district reopened its gates on Sunday after a nine-day closure for the annual saltwater crocodile census. The park was closed on January 5.
The meticulous census, conducted across five ranges, engaged teams composed of Forest department personnel and experts. During the census, a total of 1,811 estuarine crocodiles were documented in Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas, marking a marginal increase from the 1,793 recorded during the previous year’s count. The census detailed the distribution of crocodiles across various age groups, ranging from hatchlings to adults, providing valuable insights into the thriving crocodile population in the region.