Latest news with #ManasKumarDas
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Croc found dead in Bhitarkanika
Kendrapada : A four-year-old male saltwater crocodile was found dead in the Kochia river near Silapokhari village within Bhitarkanika National Park on Tuesday marking the 14th unnatural crocodile death in the past five carcass measuring 4-ft and eight inches was spotted by locals who alerted forest authorities. "We have sent the carcass for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death," said Manas Kumar Das , assistant conservator of forest ( ACF ), incident follows discovery of a female saltwater crocodile's carcass in the Brahmani river on Nov 1, 2024 highlighting a disturbing trend in the protected area. "Unnatural deaths of adult crocodiles in Bhitarkanika are alarming," said Sudhakar Kar, noted herpetologist and former wildlife researcher. He said saltwater crocodiles are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, to Hemant Rout, secretary of Gahirmatha Marine Turtles and Mangrove Conservation Society (GMTMCS), illegal fishing remains a major threat to the crocodile population. "Despite fishing being banned in Bhitarkanika's water bodies, unauthorised activities continue unabated, leading to more crocodile casualties," Rout park, established as a crocodile breeding center in 1975 through a UNDP collaboration, is home to 1,825 saltwater crocodiles as per the January 2025 census. However, with 36 crocodile deaths recorded in the past 13 years, conservationists are increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of protection latest death has exposed significant gaps in the park's conservation efforts, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of fishing regulations and enhanced protection measures for these endangered reptiles.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Forest ranger trainees from Maha visit Bhitarkanika
Kendrapada: A group of 28 forest ranger trainees from Chandrapur Forest Academy of Administration, Development and Management, Maharashtra, completed a two-day educational visit to Bhitarkanika National Park on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The visit aimed at providing hands-on training in wildlife conservation and forest management exposed the trainees to various aspects of mangrove forest conservation , wildlife management , crocodile breeding programmes, and Olive Ridley sea turtle protection efforts. Assistant conservator of forest Manas Kumar Das briefed the trainees about Bhitarkanika, India's second largest mangrove forest after Sundarbans. "As a Ramsar site, Bhitarkanika is home to diverse wildlife, including spotted deer, saltwater crocodiles, water monitors, pythons, and sambars, along with numerous migratory birds," Das said. The trainees learned about recent conservation initiatives, including the demolition of illegal shrimp farms violating coastal regulation zone guidelines and Supreme Court rulings. "We are converting these dismantled areas into mangrove forests through systematic plantation," Das added. Forest officials highlighted the crucial role of mangroves in protecting coastal villages during natural disasters, citing the 1999 cyclone as an example. They also detailed the success of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, the world's largest rookery for Olive Ridley sea turtles, where over 6 lakh turtles laid eggs between March 5 and 10 this year. "This field experience at Bhitarkanika will significantly contribute to our future roles as forest officers," said one trainee, emphasising the visit's educational value. The training programme included practical demonstrations, field visits, and interactive sessions with forest officials and wildlife researchers, making it a comprehensive learning experience for the future forest rangers.
