Bhubaneswar: Forest Department personnel inside the Bhitarkanika National Park have spotted more than 55 nests of saltwater crocodiles within the Kanika forest range during the ongoing nesting season.
Kanika Forest Range ACF-cum-Range in-charge, Manas Kumar Das said Forest Department personnel have sighted the crocodile nests at Chintamani Mohanty Creek, Thanapati, Mangalpur, Saguna Chera Creek, Jalahar Creek, and Bhitarkanika Patia creek inside the Bhitarkanika National Park.
He said that female crocodiles lay eggs inside the mangrove forest near the water bodies of the park and guard them till the hatchlings emerge. The crocodiles lay eggs by creating a mound-like structure of a nest with mangrove leaves. The hatchlings emerge from the nest after about 60 to 70 days.
As the female crocodiles in Bhitarkanika National Park grow up to 14 feet long, they lay nearly 45 to 60 eggs. If the length of a female crocodile is more than 14 feet, she will lay more numbers of eggs. The Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division has already imposed a three-month ban from May 1 to July 31 to count the crocodile nests in the water bodies of Bhitarkanika National Park and nearby rivers. Entry of tourists into the crocodile-infested areas of Bhitarkanika National Park has been restricted.
