Bhitarkanika National Park to reopen after 3-month

Bhubaneswar: The Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district, which was closed since May 1 due to the breeding season of saltwater crocodiles, will reopen for tourists from August 1.

Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Bhitarkanika National Park, Pradosh Kumar Patnaik informed that elaborate arrangements have been made for the reopening of the mangrove wetlands.

Visitors will be permitted to enter the park through three main entry points – Chandbali, Khola and Gupti, he added.

Notably, the authorities had closed the park as these aquatic animals become more ferocious during mating and breeding season. Keeping this in view, the park was closed for three months.

As many as 1,671 estuarine crocodiles are enumerated in Bhitarkanika national park, said sources.