Bhitarkanika National Park reopens for tourists after crocodile census

 After remaining out of bounds for tourists for over a week, the Bhitarkanika National Park and its scenic wetland sites in Kendrapara district reopened on Sunday, a senior forest official said.The national park was closed for visitors from January 15 to January 23 for the annual census of estuarine crocodiles.

"Restrictions were imposed on visitors to prevent noise pollution during the headcount of the reptiles in Bhitarkanika," the Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Bikash Ranjan Dash, said.

The purpose was to keep the place free from human interference for carrying out the census meticulously, he said.

Sound pollution following human activity distracts wildlife and hinders a foolproof census exercise, Dash said.

"We are ready to play host to domestic and international tourists after a nine-day break. We receive about one lakh tourists in a year.Our emphasis is on ensuring safe and comfortable sojourn of visitors who throng here in large numbers to savour the warmth of the ecosystem and unique environs of its wetlands," the forest officer said.

It has been made mandatory that visitors must submit identity proofs to get entry permits to the national park, he added.

The national park has 70 per cent of the country's estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, the conservation of which was started in 1975.

On Sunday, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the national park along with state government officials.