The population of saltwater or estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in and around Odisha’s Bhitarakanika National Park has marginally increased in 2024.
There are 1,811 crocodiles in the park located in Kendrapara district.
Last year, the crocodiles are numbered at 1,793.
Bhitarakanika is the second-largest mangrove forest in India after the Sundarbans in West Bengal.
Both areas are among the three strongholds of saltwater crocodiles — the largest reptiles in the world in India.
The third is being the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.