Kendrapara (Odisha), Apr 29 (Reporter) The Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary will remain closed to tourists and local visitors from May 1 to July 31, in view of the breeding and nesting period of estuarine crocodiles. Rajnagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Sudarshan Gopinath Jadhav, stated that during this period, tourist movement will be restricted in crocodile-infested areas, including the Bhitarkanika, Dangamala, and Ragadapati forest blocks. The closure aims to prevent disturbance to the reptiles during their sensitive breeding and nesting period. Forest officials noted that the crocodiles become more aggressive during this time, and the majority of crocodile attacks occur when they are disturbed during nesting. Last year, the Bhitarkanika National Park authorities recorded 114 estuarine crocodile nests in Kanika, Gahirmatha, Mahakalapada, and Rajnagar forest ranges under the park, Jadhav said. Female crocodiles in Bhitarkanika typically grow up to 14 feet in length and can lay 40 to 50 eggs. Larger females—those exceeding 14 feet—are known to lay even more eggs. Officials said that about 10 percent of the eggs are usually destroyed by predators. Hatchlings emerge after an incubation period of 75 to 80 days, the DFO added. The authorities have discontinued artificial hatching and rearing of crocodile eggs at the Dangamal Crocodile Research Centre over the past two years due to the rising crocodile population. The carrying capacity of saltwater crocodiles in the water bodies of Bhitarkanika National Park is nearing its limit, officials noted. As many as 1,826 crocodiles were spotted in and around the water bodies of the Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife) during the 2025 annual headcount of estuarine crocodiles. Among them, four estuarine crocodiles were found to be more than 20 feet long, while 18 others measured around 18 feet, Jadhav said...////...