Kendrapada, Odisha | October 26, 2026
A female saltwater crocodile measuring six feet two inches was found dead in the Luna River near Gopinathpur village on October 25, bringing reported deaths in Bhitarkanika National Park and its vicinity to four within 19 days.
Three Earlier Deaths This Month
The earlier discoveries included a 14-foot male near Nagada on October 6, a smaller female near Badakota on October 22, and a seven-foot female near Bengamari on October 24.
Fishing Nets Raise Concern
Environmentalist Hemant Rout blamed illegal fishing nets, which can trap crocodiles underwater. However, this has not been established as the cause of the latest deaths.
Post-Mortem Findings Awaited
Divisional Forest Officer Varadaraj Gaonkar said veterinary examinations had been conducted and the findings would establish the causes.
Protecting a Conservation Achievement
Veteran herpetologist Sudhakar Kar expressed concern over the losses. Bhitarkanika’s crocodile population has grown from an estimated 95 in 1975 to more than 1,800.
The deaths warrant careful investigation without assuming that all four share the same cause.
Source: The Times of India.
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