Kendrapada: Bhitarkanika National Park has recorded 117 active nests of estuarine crocodiles during its annual nesting survey, underscoring a stable breeding population and the continued effectiveness of conservation efforts in the ecologically significant mangrove ecosystem, forest officials said on Monday.
The survey, conducted by the Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar, from May 1 to June 30, covered all wildlife ranges within the national park to assess the breeding status of the species.
According to the survey findings, the Kanika Wildlife Range accounted for the largest share with 106 active nests, while Rajnagar Wildlife Range recorded 10 nests and Mahakalpada Wildlife Range reported one.
Officials said the Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem, a designated Ramsar wetland of international importance, currently supports a population of 1,858 estuarine crocodiles.
The latest figures indicate that crocodile nesting activity has remained consistently robust over the past five years, reflecting sustained habitat protection, scientific monitoring and conservation management. The park documented 122 active nests each in 2022 and 2023, followed by 114 in 2024, 116 in 2025 and 117 this year.
Forest authorities said the annual nesting survey forms a crucial part of the long-term monitoring programme for estuarine crocodiles. The exercise enables officials to evaluate breeding trends, identify important nesting sites, strengthen habitat protection measures and guide future conservation planning.
Odisha is the only state in India where all three crocodilian species—saltwater crocodile, mugger and gharial—continue to occur in the wild, making the state’s wetlands particularly significant for crocodile conservation.
