65 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles spotted in Odisha

KENDRAPARA (ODISHA): Around 65 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles have been spotted in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district and the number is likely to increase as the counting process was still on, officials said.

Wildlife personnel in the park have spotted around 65 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles, the number of which has gone up in comparison to last year when 56 crocodile nests were found.

The nests were sighted by wildlife enumerators of the Forest department along the innumerable nullahs, creeks and water-inlets in the Bhitarkanika river system, an ideal habitat of saltwater crocodiles, even as the annual breeding ritual of the reptiles has reached its peak.

"The figure of the number of nest may increase further as the counting process of estuarine nest was still on," said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Kedar Kumar Swain.

Female crocodiles lay 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nests after 70 to 80 days of incubation period, he said.

Forest department officials said due care has been taken this time by wildlife staff to save crocodile eggs from being devoured by predators like snakes, jackals and dogs, found in the reserve.

Adequate conservation measures by the state forest department have led to a systematic rise in the number of these reptiles over the years, claimed officials.