Kendrapara, Jan 14: A total of 1,811 saltwater crocodiles have been counted at Bhitankanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district in a recent census, a forest official said on Sunday.

"The crocodile census at Bhitarkanika Sanctuary is complete. This year the number of crocodile has increased to 1811 compared to 1793 last year i.e increase of 18 numbers. Growth in numbers has been reported in Hatchlings mainly," Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The crocodile census at Bhitarkanika Sanctuary is complete. This year the number of crocodile has increased to 1811 compared to 1793 last year i.e increase of 18 numbers. Growth in numbers has been reported in Hatchlings mainly. pic.twitter.com/jHYRnawoij
— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) January 14, 2024

The number of estuarine crocodiles in water bodies of the Bhitarkanika river system and Mahanadi deltaic region was 1,793 last year.

The growth in numbers has been mainly reported in hatchlings but other size segments have also reported slight growth compared to last year, he said.

As per the census, of the 1,811 crocodiles, 582 (32 per cent) are in the hatchling group, while 387 (21 per cent) are yearlings, 327 (19 per cent) are juveniles, 167 (9 per cent) are sub-adults and 348 (19 per cent) are adults.

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The annual crocodile estimation exercise was conducted by 22 teams in Bhitarkanika National Park, Gahirmatha Sanctuary and Mahanadi deltaic areas from January 10 to 12, sources said.

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