Kendrapada, Aug. 1 -- Bhitarkanika National Park reopened to tourists on Saturday after remaining closed for three months to facilitate the nesting of estuarine crocodiles, with forest officials welcoming visitors with bouquets and sweets at the entry gate.
The Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division had prohibited tourist entry from May 1 to July 31 to ensure undisturbed nesting of saltwater crocodiles and to minimise the risk of human-crocodile conflict during the breeding season, when the reptiles are known to be more aggressive.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division, Vardaraj Gaonkar, said intensive surveys conducted this year recorded 117 crocodile nests in the park's water bodies and adjoining riv...