In what would be soothing for the nature lovers, a large number of estuarine crocodile nests were sighted in four wildlife and forest ranges under the Bhitarkanika National Park.
This year a record number of crocodiles laid eggs during the nesting season as the enumerators spotted as many as 122 nests at the water bodies of Bhitarkanika and the nearby rivers by carrying out intensive search, said Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and Wildlife Division DFO Jangyadutta Pati.
As many as 38 more crocodile nests were spotted at Bhitarkanika than the last year nesting season. Last year, the forest personnel had counted 84 crocodile nests as the severe cyclonic storm “Yaas” had cast its shadow on nesting process of the crocodiles following tidal water washed several nests, in which crocodiles laid eggs under Kanika range during high tide, informed official sources.
According to the DFO, the forest personnel spotted 110 nests of crocodiles in Kanika forest and wildlife range, whereas nine nests were spotted under Rajnagar forest and wildlife range. Two crocodile nests were spotted at Gahirmatha and one nest was sighted at Mahakalapada. Whereas last year , the forest personnel had sighted 70 nests of crocodiles in Kanika forest and wildlife range, 10 nests under Rajnagar forest and wildlife range and two nests each at Mahakalpada and Gahirmatha ranges.
The Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division had imposed a three months’ ban, from May 1 to July 31for tourists for conducting the count in the water bodies of Bhitarkanika Park and nearby rivers, informed DFO Pati.