It is a tiny piece of heaven on the Odisha coast. The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is where the world's largest living reptile, the estuarine crocodile, is thriving amidst sylvan surroundings after having been brought back from the brink. But now there is trouble with the reptile population booming, posing a threat to the natural balance.

From a strength of 96 crocodiles in 1976, the population now stands at 1,646. A boat ride in some areas can yield crocodile sightings as frequent as one croc a minute, according to a conservationist.

KENDRAPARA: Emergence of millions of baby Olive Ridley marine turtles along the tranquil Gahirmatha beach has brought cheers to conservationists here.
Wildlife lovers are elated as hatchlings broke out of eggshells and began their seaward journey from the nesting grounds at Nasi-2 Island. About 1.68 lakh turtles had arrived at Nasi-2 nesting ground from March 20 to March 28 to lay eggs on the sandy beach.

Jajpur: About 16 species of mangrove plants are proved as sources of anti-cancer drugs. These species are available in India’s second-largest mangrove forest of the Bhitarakanika National Park in Odisha and other parts of the globe, said Dr Luna Samant, a noted Zoologist and head of Zoology department at the Ravenshaw College, Cuttack.

She was addressing a national-level UGC-sponsored seminar on ‘Conservation of wetland and its biodiversity in India with special reference to Odisha’ at a college at Balichandrapur.

KOLKATA, 2 JAN: An enumeration of the crocodile population has been planned for the first time in the creeks and rivulets of the Sunderbans, Mr Pradip Vyas, director of Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, said. He said the three-day enumeration would begin on 15 January.

Come New Year and the bird poachers are all set to earn a fast buck out of selling migratory birds. The meat of the birds remains in high demand among the tourists, which is provided by the poachers, who trap the birds slyly in and around Bhitarkanika National Park. The poachers trap the birds by spreading nets on the paddy fields near Bhitarakanika. Taking advantage of the weak vigilantism in the national park, the poachers call it a day here. Everyday, hundreds of birds are killed and sent off to luxurious hotels to be served on the dining table of the foreign tourists.

Kendrapada: The outbreak of avian flu in Nadia district of the neighbouring West Bengal has triggered an alert here in the Bhitarakanika National Park in Kendrapada district.

The park and the district animal husbandry officials on Thursday sounded alert to the inhabitants in and around the Park to take precautionary measures for possible outbreak of Bird Flu, by distributing leaflets among the gullible villagers, said Rajnagar mangrove forest and wildlife division DFO Manoj Kumar Mohapatra.

Jairam Ramesh It is for the government of Orissa to meet the legal rules if the mammoth Posco steel project is to be cleared by him, said Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

A day ahead of a meeting with Orisa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who reiterated that project clearance is vital for both state and nation, Ramesh said:

An estimated 3.60 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles have arrived for mass nesting this year at the tranquil Nasi II (South Nasi) beach of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, according to stated DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division, Manoj Kumar Mohapatra.

The arribada phenomenon of the endangered turtles occurred from February 26 to March 7 at the golden beach near the establishment of

KENDRAPARA: As many as 1,654 estuarine crocodiles, including four crocodiles measuring more than 20 feet, were sighted by the forest officials in the water bodies at Bhitarkanika National Park during the recent census.

DFO of the Park Manoj Kumar Mohapatra said the recent census report indicates that the population of the endangered reptiles marginally increased as last year the forest officia

An estimated 114 species of migratory birds have visited the Chilika lake from the Caspian region, Lake Baikal, Russia and South Eastern parts Himalayas this winter to feed and breed, according to the State Forest and Environment Department sources.