Croc found dead in Bhitarkanika

Kendrapada: A four-year-old male saltwater crocodile was found dead in the Kochia river near Silapokhari village within BhitarkanikaNational Park on Tuesday marking the 14th unnatural crocodile death in the past five years.The carcass measuring 4-ft and eight inches was spotted by locals who alerted forest authorities."We have sent the carcass for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death," saidManas Kumar Das, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), Bhitarkanika.This incident follows discovery of a female saltwater crocodile's carcass in the Brahmani river on Nov 1, 2024 highlighting a disturbing trend in the protected area. "Unnatural deaths of adult crocodiles in Bhitarkanika are alarming," said Sudhakar Kar, noted herpetologist and former wildlife researcher. He said saltwater crocodiles are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.According to Hemant Rout, secretary of Gahirmatha Marine Turtles and Mangrove Conservation Society (GMTMCS), illegal fishing remains a major threat to the crocodile population."Despite fishing being banned in Bhitarkanika's water bodies, unauthorised activities continue unabated, leading to more crocodile casualties," Rout said.The park, established as a crocodile breeding center in 1975 through a UNDP collaboration, is home to 1,825 saltwater crocodiles as per the January 2025 census. However, with 36 crocodile deaths recorded in the past 13 years, conservationists are increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of protection measures.The latest death has exposed significant gaps in the park's conservation efforts, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of fishing regulations and enhanced protection measures for these endangered reptiles.