Kendrapara: April 30: Visitors/Tourists will not be allowed to visit Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara distric from Ist May to 31st July. ‘Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks will remain closed during the period because this is the breeding season for salt-water crocodiles’, said Bimal Prasan Acharya, Divisional Forest Officer of Bhitarkanika.
‘Human interference and sound of motorised boats disturb the crocodiles and use to have a negative impact on breeding. Also, the reptiles often become violent and attack the visitors during this time to protect the eggs. Ensuring safety of visitors as well as facilitating better ambience to the crocodiles cause to close down the Park’, added Acharya.
Not only the tourists, local intruders also be prevented to enter the Park, who use to enter the park to collect honey and wood. Authority will also deploy guards to keep watch on major nesting sites to protect the eggs.
