Odisha Prides Itself for Scripting India's Most Successful Crocodile Recovery Project

Crocodile Conservation Programme completes 50 years

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

With the Crocodile Conservation Programme in India all set to observe its 50th anniversary on 17 June, Odisha, the only State to house all three species of crocodiles, finds the pride of place in implementing the most successful conservation project of salt water crocodiles.

"The conservation programme of saltwater crocodiles, which were facing extinction five decades back, in Bhitarkanika National Park of Kendrapara district has turned out to be the most successful one in the country. Bhitarkanika is home to nearly 70% of India's estuarine crocodile or saltwater crocodiles. This crocodilian species is also found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Sundarbans in West Bengal. But its population in these pockets is considerably on a lesser scale. The salt-water crocodile population in Bhitarkanika and adjoining river systems has increased manifold from 96 in 1975 to 1826 in 2025. About one third of the population comes under the adult or sub-adult category. Therefore it augurs well for further growth of reptiles' population", said Sudhakar Kar, crocodile researcher.