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Crocodile Deaths Alarm Bhitarkanika Officials
22 Oct
Summary
- A six-year-old female saltwater crocodile carcass found in Hansua river.
- Illegal fishing nets are suspected to cause crocodile deaths by asphyxiation.
- This marks the 19th unnatural crocodile death in six years.
On Thursday, the body of a six-year-old female saltwater crocodile, measuring three feet and seven inches, was found floating in the Hansua river near Badakota village, located within Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park. Forest officials retrieved the carcass and sent it for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
This discovery highlights a growing concern over unnatural crocodile deaths in the region. Illegal fishing activities within the park's water bodies are strongly suspected as a major contributing factor. Crocodiles are believed to be dying from entanglement in illegal fishing nets, leading to asphyxiation or drowning when they cannot reach the surface.
This incident is particularly alarming as it is the 19th such unnatural death recorded within the past six years and the 41st within 14 years, according to environmentalists. Bhitarkanika, a vital habitat for 1,858 saltwater crocodiles as per the January 2026 reptile census, faces a significant conservation challenge.
Saltwater crocodiles are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making their unnatural deaths a critical issue for wildlife authorities and conservationists.
