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Rise in Saltwater Crocodile Population at Bhitarkanika National Park Reveals Success

Saltwater crocodile population in Bhitarkanika National Park in 2024
The saltwater crocodile population at Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park registered a marginal rise to 1,811 as per the annual census conducted in January 2024, indicating continuing conservation success for the saltwater crocodile since dedicated efforts began in the 1970s.
However, the growing numbers coupled with sightings over 70 kms away from the Bhitarkanika National Park have escalated the human-crocodile conflict in surrounding villages, with 6 fatal attacks reported in 2022.
The growth reinforced the park’s importance as one of three key Indian habitats sheltering these legally protected saltwater crocodile. But rising attacks reinforce the challenges in balancing community safety with securing the future survival of saltwater crocodiles in the wild.
Bhitarkanika National Park
Bhitarkanika National Park is located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha, India. With an area of 145 sq km, it is surrounded by the larger 672 sq km Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and is designated as a Ramsar wetland site.
Bhitarkanika represents India’s second largest mangrove ecosystem after Sundarbans in West Bengal. Along with Sundarbans and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bhitarkanika forms one of the three most important habitats and breeding grounds for giant saltwater or estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the country.

2024 Crocodile Census in Bhitarkanika National Park
The annual crocodile census at Bhitarkanika National Park is conducted each January across rivers, creeks and channels in the park ecosystem. 22 teams carried out an extensive survey from January 10-12, 2024 aided by forest staff and herpetologists.
The 2024 census recorded a marginal population increase to 1,811 saltwater crocodiles, up from 1,793 crocodiles counted in 2023. Positive growth was observed across all age groups including hatchlings, yearlings, juveniles, sub-adults and adults over the previous year.
Favorable environmental conditions assisted better sightings and a comprehensive census effort, contributing to the recorded rise in Bhitarkanika’s estuarine crocodile numbers.
Annual Crocodile Census Methodology
The annual crocodile census methodology involves extensive surveys by multiple teams across the park’s rivers, creeks and mangrove channels. It is timed in January when around 50% of mudflats get exposed due to favorable environmental conditions.
Bhitarkanika National Park forms an ecologically rich landscape crisscrossed by the Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Pathsala rivers. It harbors India’s second largest mangrove ecosystem along with estuarine crocodiles, snakes, endangered olive ridley turtles nesting on nearby beaches, and myriad bird species that migrate to its mangroves during winter.
The saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is a giant reptilian species native to brackish waters and estuaries of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and under CITES Appendix I, it receives the highest levels of national wildlife protection in India under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Conservation History of Saltwater Crocodiles
A focused conservation program for protecting saltwater crocodiles known as the “Saltwater Crocodile Conservation Programme” was initiated at Bhitarkanika in 1975, as a collaboration between India’s Ministry of Forest and Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
As the only dedicated saltwater crocodile project in the country with an annual population census effort, Bhitarkanika has seen conservation success. From just 1,192 crocodiles recorded in 2000, numbers increased steadily to 1,784 in 2022 before touching 1,811 in the latest 2024 survey.
The Bhitarkanika National Park now shelters the largest wild population of giant saltwater crocodiles within India. Continued monitoring and habitat management remain vital to secure the future survival of these reptiles at Bhitarkanika.
Rising Human-Crocodile Conflict in Bhitarkanika
There has been an increase in crocodile attacks on humans in areas surrounding Bhitarkanika National Park. 6 deaths were reported between June-August 2022 from crocodile attacks near the park boundaries. It is found that in last 15 years, total of 57 persons got attacked by saltwater crocodile in and around Bhitarkanika National Park as reported in Ocean & Coastal Management Volume 182, December 2019.
Alarmingly, crocodile sightings have now risen at locations 70-100 km outside of the park, as per evidence presented in Wajiha, Khan et al. (2020) study. Only adult and sub-adult crocodiles pose a risk to human life, and Bhitarkanika shelters 515 such potentially dangerous individuals capable of venturing into inhabited areas.
Capturing and returning them to the park has proven challenging. With estuarine crocodiles expanding their range around human settlements near Bhitarkanika, there is an growing need to tackle this escalating human-wildlife conflict to prevent loss of human lives.