Kendrapara (Odisha), Dec 25 : The Bhitarkanika National Park will remain closed for ten days for tourists from January 5 next to carry out the headcount of Estuarine Crocodile.
DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and wildlife Division Gopinath Sudarshan Yadav on Monday said the restriction on the visitors entry into the park is to prevent the noise pollution during the census drive and also to facilitate the census operation smoothly in a tranquil atmosphere.
The headcount drive of Salt water crocodile will be organised under the supervision of DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and wildlife Division.
The entire day and night census operation will be monitored and supervised by the Technical expert, deputed from the Wildlife Headquarters.
The enumerators, assisted by the trained local forest staff, will cover the Bhitarkanika river system besides innumerable creeks, water inlets, nullahs, where the reptiles were found abundant.
The saltwater crocodile, being amphibious in nature, can be counted directly both on land, while basking on the river bed, and on water surfaces while floating.
During day time, crocodiles basking on land are easier to count and their size class can be estimated easily and accurately.
At night, crocodiles less than 6 feet floating on water or resting on land can be counted by using a spot light and catching the reflected ‘ruby red” glow from their eyes.
The Park authority will use both traditional methods and also the new technology based mobile application – polygon search method like last year to ensure the density of crocodile population, Ranger of Kanika Forest Range Manas Kumar Das said.
As many as 1793 numbers of Estuarine crocodiles were spotted in and outside the water bodies of Rajnagar Mangrove forest Division(wildlife) during the headcount drive of estuarine crocodiles last year.
