Kendrapara: Three fishermen were arrested by forest personnel on charges of trespassing and carrying out illegal fishing into prohibited crocodile habitation corridors of Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district.
Intensifying vigil in the wake of cases of reptiles' death, a patrol of officials intercepted three mechanised fishing vessels and arrested as many persons engaged in illegal fishing activity within the protected area in the core area of the National Park, Forest Range officer, Kanika range of the Park, Akshyaya Kumar Nayak said.
The interception took place on the southern part of the national park along the crocodile-infested Kalibhanjdiha water-inlet yesterday. The said water-inlet is an ideal habitat for salt-water crocodiles.
Fishing activities in habitation corridors of crocodiles are punishable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. It is found that crocodiles get entangled in fishing nets and perish in the process, said Nayak.
The arrested persons - Naba Kumar Majhi, Gandhrva Dalai and Kuna Dalai - were of Dhamra in Bhadrak district.