Home / Environment / Mystery Kills: Five Crocodiles Dead in Odisha Park
Mystery Kills: Five Crocodiles Dead in Odisha Park
3 Nov
Summary
- Five saltwater crocodiles died in Bhitarkanika National Park within 27 days.
- Autopsies and viscera tests are underway to determine the cause of death.
- A herpetologist warns that current losses could jeopardize 50 years of conservation.
Concerns are rising over the safety of saltwater crocodiles in Bhitarkanika National Park after five individuals died within a 27-day period. The most recent casualty, a female crocodile measuring four feet two inches, was discovered deceased in the Hansua river near Badakota village on November 1, 2026. Forest officials retrieved the carcass for immediate examination.
Veterinary doctors have performed autopsies on all deceased crocodiles and sent samples to the Centre for Wildlife Health for analysis. The results are anticipated to reveal the definitive causes behind these alarming deaths. The park, home to 1,858 saltwater crocodiles as of the January 2026 census, has experienced five such fatalities since October 6, 2026.
Past incidents include the discovery of a six-foot-two-inch female in the Luna river on October 25, 2026, and a seven-foot female in the Brahmani river a day earlier. Earlier, on October 22, 2026, a three-foot-seven-inch female was retrieved from the Hansua river. The first reported death in this series was a 14-foot male on October 6, 2026, found in the Brahmani river.
Herpetologists warn that the loss of mature male and female crocodiles could severely impact population stability, potentially undoing 50 years of conservation achievements. Concerted efforts from both local communities and the forest department are deemed crucial for the continued protection of these estuarine crocodiles and their mangrove habitats.
