Crocodile number . increases by 32 in Bhitarkanika in a year
The annual reptile census in Kendrapada's Bhitarkanika National Park revealed a slight increase in the salt-water crocodile population, reaching 1,858 in 2026 from 1,826 in 2025. This success is attributed to the long-standing conservation program, which began in 1975 when the park housed only 95 crocodiles.