Bhitarkanika National Park

• A 10-year-old boy was allegedly killed recently following an attack by a crocodile sparking fresh bouts of man-animal conflict in areas in close vicinity of Bhitarkanika National Park.

ABOUT BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK

• It is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.

• It is India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sunderbans.
• It is a 145 Sq. km large national park, designated in 1998.
• It was declared a Ramsar site in August 2002
• This National Park is a network of creeks and canals which are inundated with waters from rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Patasala, forming a unique ecosystem.
• Flora comprises of mangrove species, casuarinas, and grasses like the indigo bush.
• Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of saltwater crocodiles in India.
• The Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
• Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otter, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolfs, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.

ABOUT SALTWATER CROCODILE

• Saltwater crocodiles, or estuarine crocodiles, are enormous creatures and the world’s largest living reptiles.
• Global habitat- It inhabits brackish waters of wetlands and marine intertidal environments from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar east to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and south to Australia’s northern coast.
• They are nocturnal hunters.
• The species is known for its aggressive nature, as shown by numerous attacks on people and livestock each year.
• IUCN: Least Concern