Bhubaneswar: The population of crocodiles in Odisha has risen to 2,193, marking a 3.54% increase compared to last year, according to the latest census conducted by the Forest Department. Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the state assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question by Baramba MLA Bijaya Kumar Dalabehera, the Minister said that in the scenic areas of Satkosia and Tikarpada, there are 65 adult crocodiles and 22 hatchlings.
The census also recorded the arrival of 24,90,986 birds across Odisha during 2025-26. While no rare species were found in Chilika Lake, two new bird species were identified there, and five new species were spotted in the Hirakud reservoir.
The Minister highlighted that thousands of birds, especially waterbirds, migrate to Odisha’s wetlands every winter to escape the harsh cold. Migratory birds generally start arriving in November, with their numbers peaking in January. As the cold eases, they begin returning to their native habitats from mid-February.
