Bhitarkanika National Park
Spread over 145 sq km area, the wetland of Bhitarkanika is segmented into three protected areas namely Bhitarkanika National Park, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. This piece of land is frequently inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Dhamra, Baitarani, and Pathsala, converting it to a swampy wetland.
Surrounded by mangrove vegetation, this national park is home to saltwater crocodiles and estuarine turtles along with other aquatic animals and birds. Other animals spotted here are king cobra, Indian python, black ibis, spotted deer, wild boar, and water monitor lizard. This marshy wetland of Bhitarkanika is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India after Sundarbans and certainly one of the top national parks in Odisha which one must explore.
Flaura and Fauna at Bhitarkanika National Park
Throughout the year several tourists mainly come here to catch sight of saltwater crocodiles which the park has in abundance and are also the star attractions of this place. Apart from the crocodiles, the park is also a prime habitat center for several other species of animals including the Indian python, black ibis, rhesus monkey, cobra, chital darter, monitor lizard, wild boar olive ridley turtles, fishing cat, spotted deer, hyena, dolphin, porcupine, sambar, terrapin.
As per a 2014 survey, Bhitarkanika includes 1872 spotted deer, 1522 jackals, 305 common langurs, 1213 wild boars, 17 sambars, 10 foxes, 12 hyenas, and 7 wolfs. Not just for the nature crawlers or wildlife buffs, the national park is an eminent tourist attraction in Odisha also for bird lovers. The fauna of the place is flourishing with many migratory birds.
Kingfishers, hornbills, woodpeckers, brahminy seagulls, tern, white-bellied sea eagles, bar-headed, and waders are some of the feathered creatures you can expect to see here at Bhitarkanika National Park. However, the flora of the park is made up of thick Mangrove Forest, which sprawls in the whole region, indigo bush, and casuarinas.
