Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district will be closed for three months as the mating and nesting season of saltwater crocodiles has begun. Officials said that the seasonal restriction is a standard conservation measure.
The park was closed to visitors on May 1 to provide a peaceful environment for the estuarine crocodiles, ensuring their nesting and breeding activities remain undisturbed by human presence, officials said.
Assistant Chief Conservator Manas Das explained that the sound generated by mechanised tourist boats is a significant source of stress for the reptiles.
“When these reptiles are disturbed during their nesting and breeding cycle, they tend to become highly aggressive. A majority of crocodile-human conflicts occur during this specific period,” Das noted.
He further detailed that female crocodiles typically deposit their eggs within the dense mangrove forests, remaining on-site to guard them vigilantly until the hatchlings emerge.
Bhitarkanika is celebrated as India’s premier success story for saltwater crocodile conservation; the population has seen a remarkable recovery, growing from fewer than 100 in 1974 to 1,858 as of the January census.
Odisha is the only state in the country having all three species of crocodiles — gharial, mugger and saltwater.
