Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Orissa, extends over an expansive area of 672 square kilometers. Known as the second largest Mangrove ecosystems in India, the park comprises a network of creeks and canals flooded by waters from the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Patasala. This unique ecosystem is enriched by the park’s closeness to the Bay of Bengal, resulting in soil rich in salts. The flora and fauna of the sanctuary is largely found in the tropical and subtropical intertidal regions.
The park is known for Salt Water Crocodiles and serves as their breeding ground. It is also home to the Gahirmatha Beach, the largest colony of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. One of the other unique aspects of the park is the heronry near Surajpore creek, known as Bagagahana, housing thousands of birds that colonize for nesting. Additionally, Bhitarkanika is home to eight types of Kingfisher birds.
The Rising Conflict: Humans and Crocodiles
The past several years have seen an alarming increase in instances of human-crocodile conflict. Around 50 people have been killed by crocodiles since 2012 in areas in and around the park. At the same time, 25 crocodiles have met tragic ends after entering human settlements or getting entangled in fishing nets.
Being territorial aquatic reptiles, crocodiles face increased competition for food, mates, and basking sites when in high population densities. The Forest and Environment Union Ministry in 1991 had instructed the state forest department to discontinue the crocodile rearing program in Bhitarkanika due to this saturation point reached by the crocodile population. The funding for the project was stopped in 1990, and the breeding and release program was fully discontinued in 1995 when the crocodile population numbered around 1,000, a significant increase from 94 in 1975.
History and Impact of the Crocodile Conservation Project
The Crocodile Conservation Project in Bhitarkanika was initiated in 1975 with the aim to shield the reptiles’ natural habitats and boost the population quickly through captive breeding. The project was necessitated due to the low survival rate of crocodile hatchlings resulting from predation.
As Odisha is known for hosting all three species of Indian crocodilians, the Gharial and Saltwater crocodile conservation program was first implemented here in early 1975, followed by the Mugger conservation programme. Funding and technical support were provided by UNDP/FAO through the Government of India.
The Way Forward: Managing the Crocodile Population
To minimize conflicts between humans and crocodiles, steps need to be taken to reduce the crocodile population. The government should also implement measures to redistribute the crocodiles across the entire mangrove forests of Bhitarakanika and the Mahanadi River system.
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination of 2017, a question was asked regarding the best place to observe gharials in their natural habitat. The correct answer was the National Chambal Sanctuary which is a tri state-protected area in northern India dedicated to preserving the critically endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle, and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. The sanctuary is critical for protecting the gharial, whose numbers have dropped drastically since the 1930s due to loss of riverine habitat, depletion of fish resources, and entanglement in fishing nets.