Kendrapara: Residents of Charigharia village, located inside the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district, are reportedly planning to intensify their agitation for adequate resettlement as their decade-old struggle over the same has yielded no results so far.

At present, over 70 households in the village, which falls under Rajnagar Forest Division, are living in a perpetual state of anxiety as they have been slapped with repeated eviction notices from the Forest department, while the district administration has started preparations for their eviction without making any resettlement arrangements, reports said.

They demand their rehabilitation in line with the relocation of Satabhaya villagers in the Rajnagar block to Bagapatia. The relocation of Satabhaya residents was necessitated due to coastal erosion. “We have been fighting for relocation to Bagapatia for over a decade now. However, a recent eviction notice has heightened our concerns.” Santosh Kumar Sarkar is a resident of Charigharia village.

Sarkar claimed that their ancestors had been living in the area long before Bhitarkanika was declared a national park. In the aftermath of the 1971 cyclone, four families settled down in the area, giving rise to the name ‘Charigharia Sahi. ’ At present, the number of households has grown to over 70.

The Central government declared Bhitarkanika a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and upgraded it to a national park in 1998. According to villager Reshmi Das, life in Charigharia has become increasingly dangerous. “The Forest department has dug canals near the village, which have become breeding grounds for crocodiles.

Villagers and livestock frequently fall victim to crocodile and other wildlife attacks,” Das said. She said that despite living in a forest area, strict restrictions imposed by the Forest department have hindered their traditional livelihood activities, such as firewood collection.

While many villagers are willing to relocate, they expressed frustration over the administration’s alleged lack of urgency in facilitating the process. Sukumar Das, another villager, stated that the villagers are ready to shift immediately if the government includes them in the resettlement plan and provides land and financial assistance in Bagapatia.

He said the villagers have staged repeated protests and hunger strikes over the demand for fair resettlement. Meanwhile, the Tesildar, Amiya Kumar Swain, said that the process of relocating Charigharia residents to Bagapatia is under consideration.

“A total of 148 families have been identifi ed for relocation,” he said. Swain claimed that ‘some individuals’ are trying to claim multiple plots under the resettlement scheme.

PNN

Kendrapara: Odisha’s Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department Monday launched a dolphin census in the Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, and nearby coastal areas, an official said.

The dolphin census exercise began at 6am Monday and it will continue for three days. At least nine teams (each comprising four personnel) of forest officials, assisted by wildlife experts, will count the dolphins.

“We are using a direct sighting method to count dolphins and study their character. The teams are provided with binoculars, GPS, maps and cameras to undertake the counting of dolphins. The counting will be done between 6am to 12 noon,” said the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajnagar, Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav.

The department said that apart from Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha beach, the dolphin census will also be held from Devi river mouth to Dhamra river mouth. The teams will also visit canals and rivers flowing through Bhitarkanika.

Read Also: In a first, elusive Great Bittern sighted in Gahirmatha

Five different species of dolphins including Irrawaddy, bottlenose, humpback, finless porpoise and Gangetic dolphins have been sighted in Bhitarkanika earlier, they said.

As per the 2023 census, 550 dolphins, including six Irrawaddy, 281 bottlenose, 208 humpback, 52 striped and three spinner species were found in the Bhitarkanika National Park area.

Earlier, the dolphin census was conducted in Chilika lagoon from January 20 to 22.

PTI

Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district reopened its doors to tourists Thursday, following a nine-day closure.

The park was closed from January 14 to 22 to allow for the annual census of estuarine crocodiles and migratory birds, and is now reopened for visitors, said the official.

To facilitate smooth planning and booking, tourists and visitors intending to visit Bhitarkanika can visit the website (www.ecotourodisha.com) The forest department has also set up forest rest houses at Dangamala, Agaranasi, Habalikothi, Gupti, and Eakakula to provide comfortable accommodations to tourists from across India and abroad, said an official.

A strict ban has been imposed on the influx of plastic disposables in protected areas and tourists are advised not to carry polythene and litter plastic bottles and other items in the forest. The green protocol will be strictly implemented, said the forest officer.

Boat journeys along the mangrove-covered water bodies are a major attraction for tourists.

Bhitarkanika is home to 70 per cent of India’s estuarine crocodile or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975.

ALSO READ: Bhitarkanika records marginal rise in crocodile count

According to Bhitarkanika National Park authorities, mammals found in the place are leopard, wild boar, jungle cat, fishing cat, hyena, sambar, striped palm squirrel, and Gangetic dolphin while reptiles found comprise turtles including Olive Ridley sea turtle, crocodile, lizard, water monitors, python, and king cobra. Around 166 species of birds have been spotted in the park.

Bhitarkanika is one of the richest storehouses of mangrove genes. Researchers have come across 11 of the 70 mangrove species, which were facing the threat of extinction in the world, in Bhitarkanika.

PTI

Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park, a Ramsar wetland site, in Odisha’s Kendrapara district has reported a marginal increase in crocodile population as per the findings of the latest census of reptiles.

Though the increase in population is marginal, the rise in the number of reptiles is indicative of the fact that the national park has turned out to be a safe, congenial habitat for salt-water crocodiles, said Assistant Conservator of Forest, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Manas Das.

While 1,826 salt-water crocodiles were counted this year along the water bodies of the Bhitarkanika river system and Mahanadi deltaic region, the census figure recorded last year stood at 1,811, said the officer.

The growth in croc numbers has been mainly reported in hatchlings, yearlings and juvenile crocs. However, the adult and sub-adult crocs of 6 to 8 feet have also reported a slight drop compared to last year, he said.

While 346 adults above 8 feet were counted this time, 348 adult species were sighted in 2024. Similarly, 164 sub-adult (6 to 8 feet) crocs were found during this year’s annual census as against 167 counted in 2024, the official said.

The annual crocodile estimation exercise was conducted by 22 teams in 51 segments in the Bhitarkanika National Park and Sanctuary, Gahirmatha Sanctuary, Mahanadi Deltaic areas. This year favourable weather conditions resulted in better sightings of crocodiles in the rivers and creeks, he said.

The Forest department said that estuarine crocodiles are also found in West Bengal’s Sundarbans, having the country’s largest mangrove cover. Besides the mangrove wetlands in Andaman Islands are home to these species, but those cannot match the density and population of crocodiles in wild habitats of Bhitarkanika.

Census was conducted both in day and night hours. Due to favourable climatic conditions such as clear and sunny weather, low day and night temperature in water and favourable tide conditions, counting of crocodiles was hassle-free.

The region is crisscrossed by innumerable water inlets, creeks and nullahs all forming the part of Bhitarkanika river system.

Incidentally, Odisha is the only state in the country having all three species — gharial, mugger and saltwater crocodile in the wild. The state government had launched a conservation programme for these crocodile species in 1975. While the conservation initiative had yielded positive results as far as saltwater and mugger is concerned, it had ‘failed’ in the Gharial conservation programme.

Kendrapara: With the annual crocodile and migratory birds’ headcount exercise getting underway, the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district will remain shut for nine days from Tuesday.

Several teams have been constituted to count the crocodiles and birds in the creeks, rivers, wetland sites and mangrove forests within the park and its nearby areas, an official said.

Any form of human activity could disrupt the process, and that is why the national park will remain closed till January 22, he said.

Read Also: Bhitarkanika to be closed for 10 days for crocodile census

The restrictions for visitors will also prevent noise pollution during the counting of the crocodiles, said Manas Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests.

Bhitarkanika is believed to house 70 per cent of India’s estuarine crocodile or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which started here in 1975.

The number of saltwater crocodiles, the species that are not found in any other river system in Odisha, stands at 1,811 in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, as per the latest census.

Kendrapara: The Mid-Winter Status Survey of Wetland Birds-2025 is scheduled to be carried out January 18 in five forest and wildlife ranges under Bhitarkanika National Park.

Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, the DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division said the field survey will be held January 18 at Kanika, Gahirmatha, Rajnagar, Mahakalapara and Kujanga ranges within Bhitarkanika National Park.

As many as 18 survey teams will be engaged to conduct the survey. The Bhitarkanika Forest officials along with renowned ornithologists, bird experts, and researchers will conduct the bird status survey at Dangamala, Khola, Chinchiri mouth, Jaudia, Bhitarkanika Mouth, Rajgarh, Satabhaya, Raitapatia, Barunei Muhana, Chataka, Praharajpur Jaudia, Ekakula, Nasi, Nasi-1, Nasi-2 , Jatadhar tanda, Hawakhana, Bandar, Devi river mouth and other places in Bhitarkanika National Park.

Also Read: Increase in bird population in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park

The Forest officials generally count the avian species with the traditional method “Direct Sighting” during the bird status survey. The wildlife researchers and ornithologists would use VHF handsets, binoculars, and GPS to count birds in the park.

Every year with the arrival of winter, migratory birds fly thousands of miles to Bhitarakanika to escape the harsh winter in Siberia, Afghanistan, Iraq, northern Asia, and some central European countries. They generally stay in Bhitarkanika for about three months before starting their homeward sojourn from the park. During last year’s status survey, a total number of 1,51,421 avian guests of 121 types of bird species came to Bitarkanika National Park. A total of 18 teams were deployed in all the 5 ranges of the division for this exercise.

PNN

Kendrapara: The Forest personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park handed over an injured 18.5-foot-long adult Indian rock python to the Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) authorities for proper treatment.

Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division, stated that the python was transferred to the Nandankanan Zoo to ensure adequate medical care for the reptile.

According to Yadav, Forest personnel rescued the injured adult python December 20 from an agricultural field in Baisigherry, under the Ragadapatia forest block of the Kanika forest range. The python had sustained head injuries. The Forest team initially treated the python with assistance from a local veterinary surgeon and later sought support from veterinary experts at the Nandankanan Zoo.

Also Read: Youth detained in Basoi murder case

The DFO said, “We have handed over the python for further treatment. Once it fully recovers from its injuries, it will remain at the Nandankanan Zoo for display.”

Manas Kumar Dash, the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of Kanika forest range, noted that while Forest personnel often rescue pythons that stray into human habitats near Bhitarkanika National Park, this is the largest python ever rescued by the team.

PNN & Agencies

Kendrapara: An 18.5-foot-long adult Indian rock python, which had strayed into Rajendranarayanpur village near Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, was rescued by forest officials Friday.

Locals, upon spotting the snake, alerted the forest department, which swiftly responded to rescue the animal.

The python had sustained some injuries and is currently being treated by veterinarians. Forest officials confirmed that once it fully recovers, the snake will be released back into the wild.

While pythons are generally not considered dangerous to humans, large specimens possess enough strength to kill an adult if provoked. However, pythons typically do not attack humans unless in self-defence, forest officials said.

PTI 

Kendrapara: Population of nesting birds has registered a marginal increase in Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha’s Kendrapara district in this monsoon season, a senior forest official said Monday.

The official statistics of the bird census pegged their population at 1,30,123 belonging to ten species. With this, the population of the monsoon birds has increased by 6,265, compared to the last census as forest officials sighted 1,23,867 birds in 2023.

As many as 27,282 nests atop 1,300 mangrove trees were counted this season. The census report reflects the results only from the direct count method. The census teams monitored all the water bodies and mangrove forest areas of Mathadia, Laxmiprasaddia, Durgaprasaddia and Balidia heronries in and around the Bhitarkanika National Park, the official said.

The increase in the number of birds visiting Bhitarkanika is a good sign for bird conservation programmes in the state, said Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bhitarkanika National Park.

Abundant fish in the river and creeks and distance from human habitation have made it a suitable congenial breeding place for thousands of birds. Watching these birds make and mend nests, collect green branches for building and repairing nests, lay, incubate, hatch eggs, feed fledglings, guard them from predators, and cover them with outspread wings to protect them from scorching rays of sun and heavy downpours is a sight to behold, said the forest officer.

PTI

Kendrapara: A six-foot-long saltwater crocodile was rescued from a community pond in a village near Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha, forest officials said.

The residents of Gajarajpur village netted the crocodile after a three-hour-long gruelling exercise, they said.

Villagers claimed that the crocodile had ventured into the village around a fortnight ago and they had informed the forest officials but the reptile was not rescued.

“We had informed the forest officials about the crocodile and asked them to rescue it. But they did not listen to our pleas, forcing us to risk our lives to capture it,” 53-year-old Pramod Pradhan of the village said.

Chittaranjan Beura, Forest Range Officer of the park, said, “The crocodile might have strayed into the village from nearby Barunei creek during high tide. The residents managed to capture it. After being informed, forest personnel released it into the wild. The locals did not cause any harm to the reptile.”

The population of saltwater crocodiles in Bhitarkanika has increased from 96 in 1975 to 1,811 at present.

PTI 

Kendrapara: Bhitarkanika National Park authorities Monday began the annual census of monsoon birds, which throng the wetland sites for nesting in large numbers every year.

Four teams comprising ornithologists and wildlife personnel of the park are on the job to conduct the headcount of the avian species, park officials said.

As the spell of rain was not uniform, their arrival was delayed this time. Still, an impressive congregation of monsoon birds was spotted along the mangrove covers of the park, they said.

The enumerators would cover all the major congregation zones inside and outside the national park for five days.

Besides the core area of the national park, peripheral wetland sites like Satabhaya and Barunei are also being taken up for the census programme.

Also Read: Deep depression makes landfall near Odisha’s Puri, coastal districts brace for heavy rain

Lack of human interference, ideal climatic conditions, cool breeze and the river system here have emerged to the liking of these delicate chirpy-winged species.

Over a dozen types of local residential birds congregate at the heronries in and around the national park for nesting and breeding every year.

The species are open bill stork, little cormorant, intermediary egret, large egret, little egret, purple heron, grey heron, night heron, darter, white ibis and cattle egret, the forest officials said.

PTI 

Kendrapara: Over 1,300 baby saltwater crocodiles have broken out of their eggshells to make their way to water-bodies in and around Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district, marking the culmination of the annual breeding and nesting season of these endangered reptiles, Forest officials said.

This year a record number of 114 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles were spotted in the national park, they said.

The sighting of substantial numbers of nests brings home the point of better conservation measures by the state forest department, said Dr Sudhakar Kar, herpetologist and wildlife researcher of Odisha forest department.

The reptiles build nests by the mangrove twigs, leaves and mud on a high ground which is free from watery inundation during the high tide of flood waters during the rainy season and where it can get direct sunlight, said Manas Das, the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) of the park.

The sight of 1,348 baby crocs breaking out of eggshells and their act of loitering aimlessly before hopping into the water bodies and creeks was a visual treat to watch. The emergence of hatchlings has commenced for the past two days and will continue for a week, the official said.

The ground-level staff engaged in maintaining watch and vigil of the nests were privileged to watch the rare natural phenomenon. The fledgling crocs emerged from the shells sans mothers. However, the forest personnel maintained a safe distance from the nests as human interference turned the reptiles violent and aggressive.

Female crocodiles lay 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nests after 70 to 80 days of incubation period. However, hardly one out of every hundred baby crocs grows to become adults as their mortality rate is very high. In the wild, babies are devoured by predating aquatic animals.

Adequate conservation measures by the state forest department have led to a systematic rise in the number of these reptiles over the years, claimed officials.

The wildlife sanctuary had been kept out of bounds for tourists and visitors to ensure disturbance-free annual nesting of crocs. The animals turn violent and restive over human interference in their habitat. The restriction on entry of tourists to the sanctuary was clamped May 31 and was later lifted July 31, said officials.

One thousand eight hundred and eleven crocodiles were counted this year along the water bodies of the Mahanadi deltaic region.

Estuarine crocodiles are also found in West Bengal’s Sundarbans, having the country’s largest mangrove cover. Besides the mangrove wetlands in Andaman Islands are home to these species. However, the density and population of crocodiles in wild habitats of Bhitarkanika is much more pronounced.

Rajnagar: Hundreds of locals residing on the fringes of Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary have opposed the draft notification on the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) boundary radius of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

Led by BJD MLA Dhruba Sahu, Pratap Keshari Deb, and former MLA Anshuman Mohanty, the villagers submitted a memorandum Tuesday to the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) through the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and Wildlife Division. The notification, issued by the MoEFCC, Government of India, September 6, 2023, declared a boundary of radius ranging from 100m to 8.7kms around Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary as an ESZ. By demarcating an ESZ encompassing an area of 497.67 sq kms, the government aims to protect critical habitats, migration routes, and nesting sites. This designation acknowledges the significance of these ecosystems not just at a regional level but as vital components of global biodiversity.

The BJD MLAs claimed that after the enactment of the ESZ, as many as 205 revenue villages designated in the circular would be affected in terms of availing basic civic amenities. The overall development and progress of the region are included in this critical area. They said that if this law is enacted, some human activities will be completely prohibited and some will be controlled and regulated. BJD MLA Dhruba Sahu stated that the regulated area is primarily an agricultural zone where 90 per cent of the population depends on agriculture and allied activities such as horticulture, animal husbandry, poultry, and fisheries. These activities have been included as regulated activities in the draft notification, he said.

During the 1990s, progress was hindered under the pretext of environmental safety, leading to the isolation of nine gram panchayats (GPs) adjacent to Bhitarkanika National Park from civil society. Even rural connectivity has not yet been developed after 77 years of Independence, the BJD leaders said. On October 4, 1961, all the forests of Kanika estate and adjoining land were declared reserve forests; but in the draft, the entire area of Kanika ExZamindari was declared a reserve forest. Bhitarkanika was declared a wildlife sanctuary April 22, 1975 by the Department of Forest and Environment, and the entire area declared in 1961 was included as a critical area.

Similarly, in October 1998, a specific core area of the sanctuary was determined as Bhitarkanika National Park for better conservation of wildlife, alleged Pratap Deb, the BJD MLA of Aul. Deb said that without the help of the community, no ecosystem could be sustained, and the beautiful natural hotspots have developed and flourished with the cooperation of the local community. Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha are not impediments to progress; instead, by capitalising on these two spots, livelihoods can be developed through eco-tourism, said BJD leader Anshuman Mohanty. The safety and security of these spots are essential, Sahu said, adding that it is the responsibility of the Government of India to ensure the livelihood security of the villagers residing in the area and provide all the opportunities promised by the Constitution of India. The locals, led by the Rajnagar MLA, reiterated before the Secretary of MoEFCC that mananimal coexistence, not conflict, is the culture here, and the locals promise to maintain this harmony for a new era of hope and aspirations.

However, the boundary of Bhitarkanika ESZ needs to be modified, they demanded. The point zero of the ESZ (i.e., 100m to 8.7kms) should be limited to Bhitarkanika National Park, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary only, he said. Before finalising the ESZ notification, the opinions of the general public living in and around Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary should be considered through the wide publication of this notification and Gram Sabha meetings in the respective villages, as the villagers demanded. The BJD MLAs have urged the MoEFCC to extend the last date for submission of objections regarding the draft notification of the ESZ by another three months beyond the current closing date of August 8, 2024, in the greater interest of the general public.

As many as 205 villages falling under the specified ESZ will be affected, as several activities, including noise pollution, air pollution, solid waste management, use of groundwater, vehicular traffic, and vehicular pollution, will be restricted by the Forest department. Apart from these, construction under tourism will be allowed with certain guidelines, whereas new construction will be restricted without legal permission from the competent authority

Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district was thrown open for tourists Thursday after a three-month-long break.

It was closed for tourists from May 1 to July 31 in view of the mating and nesting seasons of the saltwater crocodiles, said Manas Das, the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) of the park.

Bhitarkanika National Park with its beautiful assemblages of mangroves is acclaimed as the mini Amazon.

The three-month-long prohibition order had been imposed on tourists and the locals not to enter the forest areas as during the nesting and breeding time crocodiles turn more violent and the reptiles need tranquil and calm environment for mating and nesting, added the forest officer.

Around 114 salt-water crocodiles nested during the nesting season of the reptile this year in Bhitarkanika, added the forest officer.

The forest department has recently built a 600-metre-long wooden canopy bridge 15 meters above the ground in the mangrove forest of Bhitarkanika to provide an opportunity for tourists to get a close view of the wildlife and forest, added the forest officer.

PTI

Kendrapara: After a three-month ban, Bhitarkanika National Park will be reopened for tourists and visitors August 1. Raj Nagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest division had imposed a three months ban from May 1 last to July 31 on the entry of tourists and visitors into Bhitarkanika National park for the safety of tourists and to provide a congenial atmosphere for the estuarine crocodiles during the nesting process of the reptiles, said Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav, DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and wildlife division. Bhitarakanika National Park authorities had spotted 114 crocodile nests in Kanika, Gahirmatha, Mahakalapada and Rajnagar wildlife forest ranges, Jadav said.

The authorities have made it mandatory for the visitors to bring one of their identity proofs, for entry into the park. If any tourists fail to show his/her identity proof, he/she would not be allowed to enter the park area – Dangamala crocodile Research and conservation centre. The park authorities have also made it mandatory for the tourists to wear life jackets and possess lifebuoy, if they reach Bhitarkanika National Park via water route, official sources said.

A ban has been imposed on tourists carrying liquor, polythene and plastic bags inside the Bhitarkanika National park. To attract the tourists, selfie points have been set up, fibre boats deployed along with the Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and wildlife division recently. A 600-metre long wooden canopy bridge will be inaugurated Thursday, for the tourists to have a better view of the fauna and flora of Bhitarkanika National Park from the bridge, ACF-cumin-charge of Kanika forest and wildlife Range Manas Das said.

Kendrapara: With the arrival of monsoon, thousands of residential birds have started arriving at Matha-adiha, Durgaprasad dia and Laxmi Prasad dia heronry within the Bhitarkanika National Park for nesting and breeding.

ACF of Kanika Forest Range Manas Kumar Das said that residential birds of more than six types of species have already arrived at Matha-adia, Durgaprasad dia and Laxmi prasad dia heronries.

The residential birds identified as open bill stork, black-headed white Ibis, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, pond heron, little cormorant have arrived, Das said.

He said the dense mangrove vegetation and its serene pollution-free atmosphere have once again proved alluring attractions for thousands of residential winged visitors to Bhitarkanika National Park.

As many as 11 types of residential birds throng Bhitarkanika National Park every year for nesting and breeding during the monsoon.

They are open bill stork, Little cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Large Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Darter, White Ibis and Cattle Egret .

The Matha-adiha heronry, Laxmiprasad dia and Durgaprasad have become the favourite nesting and breeding place for these monsoon birds since the last half decade.

The avian species selectively use species of mangroves for constructing nests in the trees of Guan, sundari, sinduka, Bani, Jagula, Kerauan and Ouran .

Official sources said an estimated 1,23,867 monsoon birds and 26,118 nests were spotted by forest enumeration teams during last year’s bird census.

In Laxmi Prasad Dia, the forest personnel sighted 12,480 nests, 11,599 nests at Matha-adia, and 1532 nests in Durgaprasad-dia while 507 nests were spotted too at Bali-dia last year.

UNI

Kendrapara:  Six hotel owners and 50 families of Bankuala village in this coastal Kendrapara have been served with an eviction notice for encroaching forest land inside the Bhitarkanika National Park.

Rajnagar Tahsildar Ajay Kumar Mohanty has served encroachment notices under section 9 of Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, 1972 to six hotel owners,who have set up hotels by encroaching forest land.

Eviction notices were also served to 50 people of Bankuala and Durgaprasad villages for encroaching on the forest and revenue land.

The encroachers were asked to appear before the Tahasildar of Rajnagar on July 20 and 23 to submit their stand and objections before the Tahsildar.

Ramachandra Mallick of Bankuala village stated, “The marauding sea has devoured their homestead land in the 1990s, forcing them to settle in Bankuala. Now, notice has been served to leave the forest land.

Similarly, another fellow villager, Basanta Mandal said, the erstwhile king of Rajkanika had granted land Pattas to their grandfathers in the 1930s.

The officials, without verifying records, have labelled several fellow villagers as encroachers and issued eviction notices, he alleged.

According to the Tahsildar, allegations were earlier made before the District collector and DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (forest) and wildlife division that several hotels have come in near Bhitarkanika National Park main gate by the hotel owners by encroaching government and forest land.

On July 9 last, a joint inquiry was conducted by the Revenue and Forest Department with the help of local police.
The local administration organized a land survey in the presence of Tahsildar of Rajnagar, Ajay Kumar Mohanty, the Tahsildar of Pattamundai, Panchanan Nayak, ACF, Manas Kumar Das, SDPO of Pattamundai, Khyamasagar Panda, Rajnagar IIC , Ajay Kumar Jena and police force.

During the land survey it was revealed that Hotel Satya Priya, Hotel Red Crab, Hotel Bhitarkanika, and Kanika Sundari Resort were set up by the owners after encroaching on forest land.

UNI 

Kendrapara: The carcass of a five-foot-long saltwater crocodile was found floating on Brahmani river in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district Wednesday, officials said.

Some locals sighted the dead crocodile and informed the forest officials of the park. After getting information, a team of forest officials rushed to the river to retrieve the carcass of the crocodile, said Manas Das, the assistant conservator of forest (ACF) of the park.

“We have sent the carcass to the veterinary office for its autopsy. After getting the autopsy report we will ascertain the exact reason behind the death of the reptile,” he said.

Saltwater crocodiles are covered under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Bhitarkanika National Park has 1,811 saltwater crocodiles as per a report.

PTI

Kendrapara: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently unveiled the draft notification for an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) covering 209 villages with a population of about 2.75 lakh around Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapara district and its nearby areas.

Bhitarkanika is known as the second largest mangrove forest in India after Sundarbans and Gahirmatha is known as the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles.

The Eco-Sensitive Zone shall be 497.67 square kilometre with an extent of 0.10 kilometre to 8.7 kilometre around the boundary of Bhitarkanika National Park, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary, said assistant conservator of forest (ACF) of the national park, Manas Das.

Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) is a buffer area covering 205 villages of Aul, Pattamundai, Rajnagar, Rajkanika and Mahakalapada blocks in Kendrapara district and Chandabali block in Bhadrak district around the core protected forest areas to minimize human-wildlife conflict, promote in-situ conservation of wildlife and reduce the impact on fragile ecosystems, Das said.

The MoEFCC has invited suggestions or objections to the proposed eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) by August 9, 2024.

The proposed ESZ will cover an area of 497.67 square km under Aul, Pattamundai, Mahakalapada, Rajkanika and Rajnagar blocks in Kendrapara district and Chandabali block of Bhadrak district which includes 205 villages.

According to the notification, the Bhitarkanika area has the largest natural population of estuarine crocodiles in India and is known for its reptilian diversity. The area has the largest heronry in Asia, which is an annual activity during monsoon and winter migrants visit the Bhitarkanika wetland every year.

Bhitarkanika is also the second Ramsar site in the state and the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary is globally known for mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles.

The draft notification mentions that a zonal master plan will be prepared in two years. The land of the locals cannot be utilized for commercial or industrial activities without obtaining the state’s approval.

The master plan shall provide for restoration of denuded areas, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, needs of the local community and such other aspects of the ecology and environment that need attention.

New construction of hotels and resorts will not be allowed within one kilometre from the boundary of the protected area or up to the extent of the Eco-sensitive zone, whichever is nearer.

In the proposed ESZ, non-forestry activities, such as setting up of industries causing pollution, stone crushers, commercial mining, sawmills, shrimp farms, brick kilns, commercial use of firewood and hydroelectric power projects, are not allowed.

Some activities, such as construction of roads and the setting up of power lines, need permission from the MoEFCC. Only non-polluting industries can be allowed within the eco-sensitive zone.

All activities in the eco-sensitive zone shall be governed by the provisions of the Environment Act and the rules made there under including the Coastal Regulation Zone, 2011 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and other applicable laws including the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

PTI

Kendrapara: Officials have reported an increase in the population of mangrove pitta birds during the latest bird census at Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district.

Forest officials Sunday released the mangrove pitta bird census report, which pegged their population at 218. This marks an increase of 39 compared to the previous census.

Forest officials had sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds in 2023 during the first census of the species in Bhitarkanika.

The census was carried out Saturday by around 80 forest personnel under the supervision of the forest range officers of Dangamala, Rajnagar, Mahakalapada, Gahirmatha, and Kujang forest ranges of the park.

The mangrove pitta is colourful birds that have a black head with a brown crown, white throat, greenish upper parts, buff under-parts and reddish vent area. It feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects, said Subhadarshani Pradhan, a mangrove pitta researcher.

This non-migratory resident bird, scientifically known as Pitta megarhyncha, thrives in Bhitarkanika, with its breeding season spanning from April to August. The abundance of fish and the distance from human habitation makes Bhitarkanika an ideal breeding ground for these colourful birds, he added.