Hatchlings of estuarine crocodiles have started emerging from their nests in the Bhitarkanika National Park. According to Rajnagar DFO Kedar Kumar Swain, nearly 3,000 baby crocodiles have emerged from the eggshells of 60 nests spotted in the park.
As the female crocodiles grow up to 14 feet, they lay 50 to 60 eggs each. Out of these eggs, 10 per cent are generally destroyed by predators. The hatchlings normally emerge after about 60 to 70 days.
Fifty-one crocodile hatchlings have also appeared at the artificial hatcheries set up at the Dangamal Crocodile Research Centre after being artificially hatched under the ‘rear and release’ techniques. The Forest Department has decided to release nearly 35 juveniles, which are three-year-old and reared at the artificial hatcheries at this centre, in the wild in coming days.
At least 1,644 crocodiles are now housed in the Bhitarkanika National Park including 387 yearlings, 307 juveniles (between three to six feet), 142 sub-adults and 304 adults.