The Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapada district would remain closed for visitors from May 1 to July 31 in view of the breeding season of estuarine crocodiles, informed the Bhitarkanika Divisional Forest Officer.
Visitors would be barred from entering Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks during the period.
Notably, the national park remains closed for visitors for three months every year as saltwater crocodiles become very aggressive during the breeding season and attack people without provocation.
The park is home to as many as 1,671 estuarine crocodiles. Every year, forest officials collect eggs from the nesting sites for incubation under semi-natural conditions. For the conservation of the endangered species, the hatchlings are reared for a period of three years and then released into water bodies.