Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district opened its gates to visitors again on Saturday following a three-month shutdown for the annual saltwater crocodile breeding season, with park management mandating a strict zero-tolerance policy on plastic products.
The sanctuary, which suspended public entry from May 1 to July 31 to provide a quiet environment for estuarine crocodiles to lay eggs and hatch offspring, resumed services for day visitors as well as guests staying overnight at forest guest houses and eco-cottages, said officials of the Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division.
Accommodation facilities are available across key sites including Dangamala, Agaranasi, Habalikothi, Gupti, and Eakakula, with reservations managed through an online booking portal, officials said.
To preserve the sensitive wetland environment, travellers are prohibited from bringing polythene carry bags, disposable plastic goods, or plastic beverage bottles inside the park boundaries, officials stated.
The annual entry ban is timed alongside the crocodile nesting phase because the reptiles display heightened territorial behaviour and aggression while guarding their eggs, officials noted.
Scenic boat tours along the park’s winding mangrove waterways continue to be the primary highlight, bringing a crowd of roughly 350 to 400 tourists on an average day.
Bhitarkanika harbours approximately 70 per cent of India’s total saltwater crocodile population, supported by a specialized breeding initiative established in 1975 that stands as one of the nation’s most successful wildlife recovery projects.
Beyond its famous reptiles, the sanctuary sustains a diverse animal community, including leopards, wild boars, jungle cats, fishing cats, hyenas, sambar deer, striped palm squirrels, and Gangetic river dolphins, according to forest representatives.
The park’s reptilian wildlife features Olive Ridley sea turtles, pythons, king cobras, and water monitor lizards, alongside a documented avian population exceeding 166 bird species, officials noted.
Recognized as one of the most biodiverse mangrove habitats in India, Bhitarkanika also provides sanctuary to 11 mangrove plant species that are classified as threatened worldwide, experts pointed out.
