Bhitarkanika, Satkosia to Remain Closed for Crocodile Census from January 8

Bhubaneswar: Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district will remain closed to tourists from January 8 to 10 to facilitate the annual crocodile census, officials said.

The Rajnagar Wildlife Division has announced that the park, along with adjoining river channels, will be off-limits to visitors during the three-day exercise to ensure an accurate count of crocodiles. Entry restrictions will apply across core areas commonly accessed by tourists.

In a parallel exercise, the Satkosia Tiger Reserve has also commenced its crocodile census from January 8. A total of 14 teams, comprising around 70 forest personnel and researchers, have been deployed to conduct the survey over three days. Last year’s census recorded 115 crocodiles in the Mahanadi river stretch within Satkosia.

The Forest Department has advised fishermen and tourists to avoid the restricted areas during the census period, warning that human movement could disrupt the survey process. Officials said the temporary closure is a routine conservation measure aimed at monitoring crocodile populations and strengthening wildlife management efforts.