Kendrapara, Jan. 7 -- Bhitarkanika National Park will remain closed to visitors from January 8 to 10 to facilitate the Estuarine Crocodile Census, 2026, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division Vardaraj Gaonkar said. The temporary restriction aims to minimise noise pollution and ensure that the census is conducted smoothly in a tranquil environment, the DFO said.
A total of 24 teams, each consisting of four enumerators including forest personnel, will carry out the headcount. A training programme for the census was held on Wednesday at Dangamal, attended by senior forest officials, research assistants, and scientists.
The entire day and night census will be closely monitored by the DFO along with t...