Affidavit filed by the Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam in the matter of news item titled "the last feral horses in India" appearing in Mongabay, November 5, 2024. The matter relates to the critically endangered status of feral horses in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park as well as of smuggling of these …
KENDRAPARA: The picturesque wetland and meadows of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district has emerged as a congenial habitat for house sparrows. At a time when these species are fast disappearing, the sighting of these delicate birds is a positive development. Some 440 nesting sites of sparrows have been …
KENDRAPADA: The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change recently declared 192 villages around the Bhitarkanika National Park and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapada district as eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). The ESZ status aims at preventing ecological damage caused due to development activities around the Bhitarkanika, touted as the …
Plans are afoot to declare the boundary of the protected areas of Bhitarkanika wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha (Marine) wildlife division as Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). Notably, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) earlier on October 21 last has issued a draft notification of making the area …
Although the state government has targeted to operate the first phase of National Waterway-5 (NW-5), linking Dhamra-Paradip-Kalinga Nagar by 2017, delay in getting environment clearance for certain stretches is likely to push the deadline. The waterway would pass close to Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, hub of the …
BHUBANESWAR: Dr H R Bustard, an international expert on turtles and crocodiles and their population ecology, said it is perfectly natural for Olive Ridley turtles to miss mass nesting. From past records it is found that the turtles gave mass nesting or 'arribada' a miss once in every six years, …
It is a tiny piece of heaven on the Odisha coast. The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is where the world's largest living reptile, the estuarine crocodile, is thriving amidst sylvan surroundings after having been brought back from the brink. But now there is trouble with the reptile population booming, posing a …
KENDRAPARA: Emergence of millions of baby Olive Ridley marine turtles along the tranquil Gahirmatha beach has brought cheers to conservationists here. Wildlife lovers are elated as hatchlings broke out of eggshells and began their seaward journey from the nesting grounds at Nasi-2 Island. About 1.68 lakh turtles had arrived at …
Jajpur: About 16 species of mangrove plants are proved as sources of anti-cancer drugs. These species are available in India’s second-largest mangrove forest of the Bhitarakanika National Park in Odisha and other parts of the globe, said Dr Luna Samant, a noted Zoologist and head of Zoology department at the …
KOLKATA, 2 JAN: An enumeration of the crocodile population has been planned for the first time in the creeks and rivulets of the Sunderbans, Mr Pradip Vyas, director of Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, said. He said the three-day enumeration would begin on 15 January. “We will collect data on crocodile population, …
Come New Year and the bird poachers are all set to earn a fast buck out of selling migratory birds. The meat of the birds remains in high demand among the tourists, which is provided by the poachers, who trap the birds slyly in and around Bhitarkanika National Park. The …
Kendrapada: The outbreak of avian flu in Nadia district of the neighbouring West Bengal has triggered an alert here in the Bhitarakanika National Park in Kendrapada district. The park and the district animal husbandry officials on Thursday sounded alert to the inhabitants in and around the Park to take precautionary …
Jairam Ramesh It is for the government of Orissa to meet the legal rules if the mammoth Posco steel project is to be cleared by him, said Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh. A day ahead of a meeting with Orisa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who reiterated that project clearance is …
An estimated 3.60 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles have arrived for mass nesting this year at the tranquil Nasi II (South Nasi) beach of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, according to stated DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division, Manoj Kumar Mohapatra. The arribada phenomenon of the endangered turtles occurred …
KENDRAPARA: As many as 1,654 estuarine crocodiles, including four crocodiles measuring more than 20 feet, were sighted by the forest officials in the water bodies at Bhitarkanika National Park during the recent census. DFO of the Park Manoj Kumar Mohapatra said the recent census report indicates that the population of …
An estimated 114 species of migratory birds have visited the Chilika lake from the Caspian region, Lake Baikal, Russia and South Eastern parts Himalayas this winter to feed and breed, according to the State Forest and Environment Department sources. Besides, 74 species of birds have made their short stay in …
KENDRAPARA: The crusade against illegal prawn farming is making inroads into seaside villages of Mahakalapada block. In the last two years, the forest and district officials have demolished 1,252 hectares out of the 2,529 hectares being used for prawn farming, said Prasanna Kumar Behera, the divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika …
Wildlife personnel in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha have spotted 60 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles, officials said. The figure on the number of nests may increase as the counting process of estuarine nests will go on since the breeding season is not over. Last year, 57 nesting sites had …
KENDRAPARA: About 50 saltwater crocodile nests have been spotted near the creeks, nullahs and river system under Bhitarkanika National Park by the forest officials, during the ongoing nesting season. Forest officials spotted at least 50 nesting sites and about 5060 eggs were sighted in each site. The eggs will hatch …
On the one hand it was a major shot in the arm for the Kamala Nehru Zoo in Madhya Pradesh, with the hatching of 16 baby crocodiles of the endangered reptile species; on the other hand there were reports of
KENDRAPARA: The Forest Department has banned tourists and visitors from venturing into Bhitarkanika National Park from May 15 to July 31 during mating and breeding of salt-water crocodiles. The department will also renovate five ponds at the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Dangamala within the park, said Prasanna Kumar Behera, DFO, …
