NEWINDPRESS (Chennai, India) 06 June 05 35 croc-nesting sites spotted
Kendrapara: At least 35 salt water crocodile nesting sites and 50 to 60 eggs in each were spotted by Forest officials recently at creeks, nullahs and river systems in Bhitarkanika National Park.
The Forest Department will keep a watch on the eggs, said AK Jena, Divisional Forest Officer of the park. Some of the eggs will be collected from the sites and hatched at Dangamal crocodile breading and rearing centre and later released into the wild.
In order to protect the eggs from predators, the Forest department has imposed a three-month ban - from May 15 to July 31 - on tourists. Forest officials said during mating and nesting, the reptiles become more violent.
Twenty-five forest guards have been deployed to guard the sites and prevent the entry of intruders.
As per a reptile census this year, Bhitarkanika has 1449 estuarine crocodiles.
35 croc-nesting sites spotted