Bhitarkanika now home to 1,858 estuarine crocodiles

Kendrapara: Bhitarkanika National Park, a designated Ramsar wetland site in Kendrapara district, has a total of 1,858 estuarine crocodiles, according to the latest census survey, a senior Forest department official said. The official said there has been an increase of 32 crocodiles in the 2026 census survey compared to last year's total of 1,826.

"Of the total 1,858 crocodiles, 353 reptiles are eight feet or above in length," said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha. He said though the increase in population is marginal, the rise in reptiles' number is indicative of the fact that the national park has turned out to be a safe, congenial habitat for saltwater crocodiles.

Of the total of 1,858 crocodiles, there are 531 hatchlings (28.58 per cent below 2 feet), yearlings 442 (23.79 per cent 2 to 3 ft), juveniles 365 (19.64 per cent 3 to 6 feet), sub-adults 167 (8.99 per cent 6 to 8 feet) and adults 353 (19 per cent).

The annual estimation of crocodiles was conducted from January 8 to January 10 in the river systems in and around Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gahirmatha Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahanadi deltaic area, and Devi river mouth area.

A total of 24 census teams were deployed to cover 54 identified river and creek segments. The estimation was carried out using a boat-based direct observation total count method, with day and night surveys.

Day surveys focused on sub-adult and adult crocodiles, while night surveys using powerful spotlights were conducted to record hatchlings, yearlings, and juveniles. The highest population concentration was observed in Kanika Wildlife Range, followed by Rajnagar, Mahakalpada, and Gahirmatha wildlife ranges.

Jha said the Odisha Forest department is exploring the option of using drones and camera-based identification techniques for headcount of crocodiles to supplement conventional methods, reduce observer bias, and strengthen long-term population monitoring. Earlier, a pilot drone-based survey was conducted in December to assess the feasibility of integrating drones into future crocodile monitoring programmes, he said.

Odisha is the only State in the country having all three species — gharial, mugger and saltwater crocodile in the wild.

The State government had launched a conservation programme for these crocodile species in 1975. While the conservation initiative had yielded positive results as far as saltwater and mugger are concerned, it had 'failed' in the gharial conservation programme.