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Hans India
27-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
6.3 ft crocodile ventures into village
Kendrapara: A 6.3-foot-long female saltwater crocodile was on Saturday netted by forest personnel from a pond in a village close to Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district, officials said. Locals informed the Forest department upon spotting the reptile in the pond in Endulapur village. The forest personnel took three hours to net the crocodile in the presence of the locals. After the reptile was rescued, the veterinarians conducted its health checkup. Later, it was released into the wild after it was found in a healthy condition, the officials said. Though the crocodile strayed into the village, it did not attack any human. It might have entered the pond during high tide, a forest official said. The population of crocodiles in Bhitarkanika has risen from about 96 in 1974 to 1,826 as per the latest Census. Earlier, the Forest department had sounded an alert of possible attack from saltwater crocodile in certain villages in Kendrapara district following reports that reptiles were sighted in the adjoining Brahmani river which is in spate. The crocodiles are from the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary's water-bodies and the reptiles often stray into the connected river system. The rise in water level has brought in its wake the crocodile menace, with reptiles reportedly on the prowl in the low-lying areas on the upper stream of the Brahmani river. 'A departmental alert has been sounded in villages that have come under partial flooding of the Brahmani river water,' Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Manas Kumar Das, said. The crocodiles may attack people in villages under Rajnagar, Pattamundai and Aul blocks, the forest official said. 'With the river in spate, there are reports of crocodiles straying into water bodies in and around the places of human habitation. We have warned the residents not to venture into the flooded river and adjoining water bodies,' he said. Juvenile crocodiles used to stray in search of food and leave their original habitat. But due to their natural instinct, they return within a few days, said a crocodile expert.
News18
21-07-2025
- Climate
- News18
Forest dept sounds alert over possible crocodile attacks in Odishas Kendrapara
Kendrapara (Odisha), Jul 21 (PTI) The forest department of Odisha has sounded an alert of possible attack from saltwater crocodile in certain villages in Kendrapara district following reports that reptiles were sighted in the adjoining Brahmani river which is in spate, officials said on Monday. The crocodiles are from the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary's water-bodies and the reptiles often stray into the connected river system. The rise in water level has brought in its wake the crocodile menace, with reptiles reportedly on the prowl in the low-lying areas on the upper stream of the Brahmani river. 'A departmental alert has been sounded in villages that have come under partial flooding of the Brahmani river water," Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Manas Kumar Das, said. The crocodiles may attack people in villages under Rajnagar, Pattamundai and Aul blocks, the forest official said. 'With the river in spate, there are reports of crocodiles straying into water bodies in and around the places of human habitation. We have warned the residents not to venture into the flooded river and adjoining water bodies," he said. Juvenile crocodiles used to stray in search of food and leave their original habitat. But due to their natural instinct, they return within a few days, said a crocodile expert. PTI COR BBM NN Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Croc caught from village pond
Kendrapada: A 6-ft-long male saltwater crocodile was caught by forest officials from a pond in Dangamal village within Bhitarkanika National Park on Tuesday. The forest department swung into action after owner of the pond, Rajesh Kumar Pati, told the forest department that a crocodile entered the pond from the nearby Balijori creek last week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It ate fish reared by him, resulting in a huge loss. Around five forest personnel took a gruelling four hours to net the crocodile in the presence of many villagers from the pond. "I released fish fingerlings three months back in the pond by spending Rs 50,000 and hoped to make a profit by selling fish this month. But a crocodile ate many fishes. I need compensation from the forest department," said Rajesh Kumar Pati, the pond owner. The forest personnel released the crocodile into the nearby Bhitarkanika river within the park. "The crocodile did not attack humans. It was also not injured while being captured," said Manas Kumar Das, the assistant conservator of forest (ACF) of Bhitarkanika.
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.
