Migratory birds from Chilika are leaving early because of soaring temperatures

Migratory birds had made the Chilika their winter home and have started to leave early and begin their homebound journey because of soaring temperatures. Over 50 per cent of them have already left while the rest are likely to fly off shortly. Same is observed in the Bhitarkanika National Park also.
Usually, the migratory birds arrive from Siberia, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan in October and return by March but, this year, the return is early, about a week before their usual time of departure.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 21 February 2017.

It is estimated that around 9.47 lakh birds belonging to 176 species had arrived this year to spend the winter at the wetland spread over 1,100sqkm. - it has been designated as a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance). The corresponding figures for 2015 was more than 4.6 lakh birds of 161 species. However, in the Bhitarkanika wetland sites, there was a drop in the number of winged visitors from trans-Himalayan region.
In the opinion of ornithologists, the duration of stay of migratory birds is on the decline and this can be ttributed to early arrival of summer. Earlier, summer used to set in from mid-March.


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Less number of migratory birds in Bhitarkanika National Park worries bird lovers

This year there has been a considerable drop in the number of migratory birds that have arrived in the Bhitarkanika National Park and it is a matter of worry for bird lovers. As per the annual census report of Bhitarkanika's winged species released by the forest department, the number of avian winter species had dropped to 76,268 from 106,156 last year.
This has been reported in telegraphidia.com dated 16 January 2017.

Of course, there is a bright side because several rare winged species of central Asian origin have been spotted in the wetlands of Bhitarkanika.
Wildlife officials are examining the factors that could have led to the drop in the number of migratory birds. These birds usually like to be around water bodies. However, a number of water bodies had dried up at the park.This could be attributed to the prawn dykes in the close vicinity of the park which might have restricted the flow of tidal water. Raising such prawn dykes in the sanctuary area is illegal and these need to be demolished in order to conserve the ecosystem and the flora and fauna of Bhitarkanika.


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Population of white crocodile increases in Bhitarkanika National Park

The Bhitarkanika National Park has once again established itself as the country's only habitation corridor for albino estuarine crocodiles as per findings of the latest headcount of the reptiles. There was a marginal rise in the estuarine crocodile population and wildlife enumerators have spotted 10 rare white crocodiles in the brackish water bodies along the park's wetlands.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 13 January 2017.

A total of 1,682 crocodiles, including the albino species, were counted. The corresponding figure for last year was 1,671 - the census operation of crocodiles was conducted from January 3 to 8.
Ten crocodiles with whitish patches on their bodies were spotted living along the creeks and the animal's latest census figure reveals an encouraging trend of rise in the number of estuarine crocodiles.
The enumerators have seen three giant male crocodiles measuring more than 20 feet. One of these, a 21ft crocodile, has found a place in the Guinness World Records as the world's largest living crocodile. In addition, 18 large crocodiles measuring between 16 and 18 feet were identified during the annual headcount operation.


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Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha unable to attract foreign tourists

The Bhitarkanika National Park had received global exposure in the wake of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources team that had recently visited the park for lijely conferment of world heritage tag on the wetland site.
But, it has failed to pay dividends in terms of translating into more foreign tourist inflow. Out of a total of 66,971 international tourists who visited Odisha last year, only 211 visited the park. In 2014, 207 foreigners had visited Bhitarkanika and the figure was 211 next year. This year, it is 150 foreigners till November end.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 28 December 2016.

Those involved in tourism sectors feel this situation can be attributed to the hassles in mandatory registration of overseas visitors. Foreigners who arrive here are victims of official apathy. At times, the foreign visitors are stranded at least an hour at the divisional forest office during verification.
An international tourist has to furnish photocopy of passport, visa and three recent passport size photos during the registration process. No fee is charged for registration. This registration is mandatory as per direction received from the bureau of immigration, ministry of home affairs.


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Odisha to boost tourism through 30 nature tourism spots

The Odisha government has taken a decision to develop 30 nature tourism spots across the state. The spots tentatively identified are on the banks of the Chilika lake and Mahanadi river apart from the Similipal and Bhitarkanika national parks.
Some of the spots will come up close to wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 21 December 2016.

The state government has come up with a revised tourism policy to woo investors for tourism projects. The decision was taken at the meeting of Eco-Tourism Board and an action plan has been chalked out with an estimated cost of Rs 21 crore for 2016-17 to develop the nature tourism spots as approved by the board. A master plan was also made for comprehensive development of these spots.
Odisha has 31 per cent forest cover, is rich in flora and fauna and is home to 86 species of mammals, 473 bird species and 110 reptile species. Obviously, it has immense nature tourism potential. The state government was keen to promote tourism since it is employment intensive and environment friendly.


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Arrival of migrant birds increases in Bhitarkanika National Park to over one lakh

Arrival of migrant birds has shown an upward trend in Bhitarkanika National Park. It has increased to to over one lakh against around 97,000 last year. Therefore, this national park has yet again reinstated its place in the state of Odisha as one of the congenial heronries for the migrant water birds.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 3 September 2016.

Prominent among the species that arrived for nesting were grey heron, purple heron, darter, cormorant, large egret, intermediary egret and little egret.
The counting began on August 22. It was a week-long drive for the head count of seasonal monsoon birds. There were two teams comprising 10 ornithologists besides wildlife personnel of the national park. Since the rainfall was not uniform, arrival of the birds was delayed.
Still, as many as 21,204 nests were spotted on 2,098 treetops. Out of the counted birds, 42,408 adults were enumerated arriving here for monsoon sojourn. The heronry at Bagagahana attracted the highest number (46,322) of birds. The teams took into account all major congregation zones both in and out of the park. Apart from the core area of the national park, peripheral wetland sites like Satabhaya and Barunei were also included in the census.
It may be recalled that noted ornithologist Salim Ali had made a chance discovery of this habitat of the birds while he was a visit to Bhitarkanika in 1981.


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Efforts on by Odisha to get UNESCO Heritage tag for Bhitarkanika national park

A team from the UNESCO World Heritage team would visit the Bhitarkanika national park on October 18 to see if the park can be granted the Heritage tag. If approval is given, it will become Odisha’s second world heritage site after Konarak sun temple.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 19 July 2016.

Earlier a comprehensive bio-diversity dossier of Bhitarkanika national park has been submitted to UNESCO last year itself. The dossier merited positive consideration leading to the forthcoming visit of UNESCO team. The dossier contained among other things wide-ranging ground-level information on bio-diversity, eco-system and local human habitation and socio-economic condition of locals and their dependence on forest produce.
The national park is a bio-diversity treasure-trove and had figured in the list of Ramsar international wetland sites across the globe. Hence, according heritage site tag by UNESCO appears to be a formality. Often described as nature’s gift, Bhitarkanika is enriched with a variety of habitats and climatic conditions which are not found anywhere else in the country.


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Bhitarkanika National Park sees increase in nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles

It is good news for Bhitarkanika National Park which is an internationally acclaimed wetland site in Odisha. As many as 68 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles have been spotted as the annual breeding ritual of these reptiles has reached its peak stage. 66 of these sites were spotted within the core area of Bhitarkanika National Park and two more along Mahanadi deltaic region under Mahakalpada forest range outside the Park territory. Last year 66 nesting sites had been spotted.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 14 June 2016.

The authorities expect the number of nesting sites to increase as breeding phenomenon is picking pace. The nests were sighted by wildlife enumerators of the forest department and were along the innumerable nullahs, creeks and water-inlets in the Bhitarkanika river system which are ideal habitat for saltwater crocodiles.
The females lay 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge within 70-80 days of incubation period. The forest officials take care to ensure that the eggs are safe and not devoured by predators like snakes, jackals and dogs. Incidentally, the number of salt water crocodiles in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary stood at 1644 as per latest census.


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Entry of tourists banned in Bhitarkanika National Park for 3 months from 1 May

A 3-month ban from 1 May has been imposed on tourists to the Bhitarkanika National Park. This ban to the wetland sites is because this period is the breeding season of salt-water crocodiles. Human interference disturbs the reptiles and they often turn violent and attack intruders during this period. The ban period will continue till July 31 and, tourists would not be allowed access to crocodile-infested areas of Bhitarkanika, Dangamala and Ragadapati forest blocks.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 30 April 2016.

The sound of mechanized boats ferrying tourists and forest officials disturbs the crocodiles. The females lay eggs near the waterbodies in the mangrove forests and guard them till the hatchlings emerge. However, locals illegally enter the forest areas to collect honey and wood. The park has vast expanse of mangrove cover and wetland spots and is considered to be an ideal eco-tourism destination for camping, trekking and picnics. The major attractions are its saltwater crocodiles and migrant avian species and the tourists enjoy boat rides to the mangrove-covered waterbodies. Incidentally, as per a census carried out in January 2016, there are 1,671 salt-water crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika river system. And, nine years ago, the world' s largest crocodile (23feet) was found here and it made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records.


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