Bhitarkanika National Park : 10-Year-Old Boy Attack By a Crocodile
A 10-year-old boy was allegedly killed recently following an attack by a crocodile sparking fresh bouts of man-animal conflict in areas in the close vicinity of Bhitarkanika National Park.
- Bhitarkanika National Park is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.
- It is India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sunderbans.
- It is a 145 Sq. km large national park which was designated on 16th September 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site in August 2002,e., the second Ramsar site of the State after the Chilika Lake.
- This National Park is a network of creeks and canals which are inundated with waters from rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Patasala, forming a unique ecosystem.
- Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodiles in India.
- The Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
- Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otter, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolfs, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.
