Bhitarkanika National Park reopens for tourists

Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika National Park after remaining closed for three months due to estuarine crocodile nesting was reopened on Thursday for tourists.

The Bhitarkanika National Park authority had imposed a ban on entry of tourists to the park from May 1 to July 31 keeping in mind the breeding and nesting activities of Estuarine Crocodiles.

The ban was imposed not to disturb the reptiles. This year only 84 nests of Estuarine crocodiles were spotted by the enumerators in four wildlife and forest ranges against 103 last year.

Though, the Bhitarkanika National Park was scheduled to open for tourists from August 1 but was opened today due to delay in completion of the sanitisation work of the cottages and suites in Dangamala.

As many as 64 tourists including five each from Gupti and Khola points arrived by boat on Thursday.

The Bhitarkanika National Park authority has issued SOP for the tourists. Banners and boards have been displayed inside the Bhitarkanika National Park asking the tourists to follow covid norms.

All tourists are directed to wear masks, use sanitizer in regular intervals and to follow social/physical distancing. Use of alcohol inside the park area has been prohibited.

The Kanika Forest Range personnel has deployed two 20 seated eco-friendly luxurious fibre boats at Dangamal for the benefit of the tourists.

The century-old unique Victorian structured marvel “Hukitola”, located near the Mahanadi Delta in the Bay of Bengal within Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary was also reopened for tourists from today, forest official sources said. (UNI)