Context: Hundreds of saltwater crocodile hatchlings have begun emerging from 117 nesting sites in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park.
About Bhitarkanika National Park:
What it is?
- A protected national park spanning 145 km-sq nested within the larger 672 km-sq Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. It encompasses India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem and serves as a premier estuarine wetland reserve.
Located in: The northeastern corner of Kendrapara district in coastal Odisha, bounded by the Bay of Bengal and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary to the east.
History:
- Originally declared as Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in April 1975 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to rescue the vanishing saltwater crocodile population.
- The core zone of 145 km-sq was officially notified as Bhitarkanika National Park on September 16, 1998.
- Recognized globally as a Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance) on August 19, 2002, becoming Odisha’s second Ramsar site after Chilika Lake.
Key Geological Features:
- Deltaic Estuarine Confluence: Formed by the alluvial deltaic deposits of the Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Pathsala river systems where freshwater mixes with tidal marine flows.
- Dense Tidal Creek Network: Intersected by a labyrinth of meandering brackish channels, tidal creeks, and mudflats shaped by daily high- and low-tide cycles.
- Active Accretion and Sedimentation: Characterized by dynamic alluvial land accretion, forming low-lying marshes, intertidal silt beds, and floodplains enriched by riverine silt.
- Protective Coastal Barrier Beaches: Flanked on its seaward boundary by barrier sandbars and coastal beaches—such as Gahirmatha and Hukitola—which buffer inland wetlands against marine waves.
- Salt-Rich Soils and Salinity Gradient: Features high-salinity hydromorphic soils that create specialized intertidal conditions required to sustain diverse mangrove species and specialized halophytes.
Significance:
- Saltwater Crocodile Stronghold: Supports one of the world’s densest populations of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), including individuals exceeding 6 metres.
- Olive Ridley Nesting Hub: Adjoins Gahirmatha Beach, a major global mass-nesting site for Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).
