Kendrapara, Feb 21: A three -day long Bhitarkanika Mahotsav for the second time, will be organised to increase the footfalls of tourists and boost the tourism sector in the world-famous Bhitarkanika National park in coastal Kendrapara district.
A preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of District collector Amrit Ruturaj on Monday to organize the Mahotsav where the local Women SHG group would be able to get an opportunity to sell their products by opening stalls.
The 2nd Bhitarkanika Mahotstav will be held from March 10 to March 12. The Bhitarkanika Mahotsav was organized for the first time in 2020 but later discontinued for two successive years in 2021 and 2022 due to global pandemic.
Bhitarkanika National Park, the second largest viable Mangrove Ecosystem in India which harbours more than 70 species of Mangrove and its associates is a paradise for the lovers of flora and fauna.
Bhitarkanika National park offers two types of bird habitats – one, riverine islands or heronry and second, the coastal wetlands along the eastern boundaries.
As many as eight varieties of Kingfishers including a sizeable population of endangered Brown winged Kingfishers, Thirty-one species of mammals are reported from this area that includes five species of marine dolphins.
The national park is one of the best reptile refuges in India as well as in the entire Southeast Asian region and also home to the largest population of the endangered estuarine crocodiles in the Indian sub-continent.
The Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, which forms part of the Bhitarkanika ecosystem, is one of the world’s largest nesting and breeding grounds for the endangered Olive Ridley Turtle.
The Bhitarkanika National park is also a hotspot of biodiversity and home to the country’s largest population of giant saltwater crocodiles.
It has the potential to attract more tourists to enjoy the lush green ecosystem, flora and fauna, said Rajnagar DFO Gopinath Sudarshan.
