Sharmili Mallick

Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park will remain out of bounds for visitors for the bird and crocodile census which will be taken up from today. The census will conclude on January 14, official sources said.

While the bird counting will begin today, the enumeration of estuarine crocodiles in various water bodies of Bhitarkanika, Gahirmatha, Luna and other forest areas will conducted between January 10 to 14, informed Rajanagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

Sources said a total of 13 teams comprising three to four members in each team have been formed to carry out the census.

The bird census will be carried out under the supervision of Deputy Director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Dr S Balachandran, reports said.

“The bird counting will be conducted today between 6 am and 11 am. The briefing and group formation will be done on January 8 and 9 following which the counting of crocodiles will begin from January 10. The wildlife sanctuary will remain closed during these days,” added Acharya.

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