The tourists will be deprived of celebrating New Year holidays in the Bhitarkanika National Park from Thursday (January 1 to 12) as the park authority has imposed a ban to contain noise pollution in the area.
This has been done to ensure that silence prevails in the park for successful completion of census of birds and crocodiles, besides providing an ideal ambience to the avian species and reptiles. Rajanagar mangrove (forest) and wildlife division DFO Kedar Kumar Swain said the Bhitarkanika National Park will organise the annual head count drive of the estuarine crocodile and mid winter census of the migratory birds. As a result, the park will remain closed for 12 days.
The head count drive of saltwater crocodile is going to be organised from January 7 under the supervision of wildlife personnel and crocodile researchers and experts .The enumerators will be assisted by the trained local forest staff who together will cover the Bhitarkanika river system apart from innumerable creeks, water inlets and nullahs, where the reptiles are found abundantly during the census time. The salt water crocodiles, being amphibious in nature, can be counted directly on land while basking on the river bed and on water surface while floating. During the last annual crocodile census, at least 1,644 salt water crocodiles had reportedly been sighted in Bhitarkanika. Similarly during the period, the Bhitarkanika forest officials along with the renowned ornithologists, bird experts and researchers will also conduct bird status survey at Satabhaya, Raitapatia , Barunei, Muhana ,Chataka, Praharajpur and Bagagahan. The survey of birds is going to be carried out under the guidance of the Rajnagar DFO. last year, an estimated 68,154 birds were sighted in the park.