Bhubaneswar: Another saltwater crocodile has been found dead in Bhitarkanika National Park, taking the death toll to five in the last 27 days.
A 4.2-ft female crocodile carcass was spotted floating in the Hansua river near Badakota village on Tuesday morning. Local residents noticed the body and promptly informed forest officials.
Divisional Forest Officer (Bhitarkanika) Varadaraj Gaonkar said veterinary doctors conducted autopsies on the carcasses. Viscera samples have been sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, for further examination.
“We will know the exact cause of the deaths after receiving the reports,” Gaonkar stated. Bhitarkanika National Park is home to 1,858 crocodiles, according to the January 2026 census. The five deaths have been reported since October 6 in the Brahmani, Luna, and Hansua rivers.
Forest officials are monitoring the situation closely as investigations continue.
