The Bhitarkanika National Park authority is going to organise an annual head count drive of the estuarine crocodiles and a mid-winter census of the migratory avian species from December 24 to January 8.
As a result, the park is going to remain closed for about half a month, said Rajanagar mangrove and wildlife DFO Kedar Kumar Swain.
Tourists are not going to get an opportunity to spend and celebrate the coming holidays, including the Christmas and New Year, at Bhitarkanika as the park will remain closed from December 24 to January 8 next. The prohibition order on the visitors is going to be imposed during this stipulated period with an aim to prevent the noise pollution during the census drive of winter avian guests and crocodile census, added the DFO.
The head count drive of the salt water crocodiles will be organised under the supervision of wildlife personnel and crocodile researchers and experts.
The enumerators will be assisted by trained local forest staff. They will cover the Bhitarkanika river system, besides innumerable creeks, water inlets and nullahs, where the reptiles are found in abundance during the census time. The salt water crocodiles, being amphibious in nature, can be counted directly both on land and water.
During day time, crocodiles basking on land are easier to count and their size and class can be estimated easily and accurately. At night, crocodiles floating on water or resting on land can be counted by using a spot light and catching the reflected 'rubby red" glow from their eyes, stated DFO Swain.
During the last annual crocodile census, at least 1,649 salt water estuarine crocodiles had reportedly been sighted by the Bhitarkanika Forest personnel at the creeks, rivulets and water bodies of park’s river system.
Similarly during this period, the Bhitarkanika forest officials along with the renowned ornithologists, bird experts and researchers will conduct bird status survey at Satabhaya, Raitapatia ,Barunei Muhana ,Chataka, Praharajpur and Bagagahan areas. The annual status survey of birds is going to be carried out under the guidance of the DFO of Rajnagar forest (Mangrove) and Wildlife Division.
The forest officials generally count the avian species with traditional method of ‘Direct Sighting.’ The wildlife researchers and ornithologists would use spotting scope, binocular and cameras to count birds in the park, added DFO.
It is pertinent to note here that, as per the last year annual winter birds survey an estimated 65,159 birds were
sighted.