Crocodiles in abundance threaten humans in Odisha

A growing population of Crocodiles in Bhitarakanika Wildlife Sanctuary may bring a smile on the faces of wildlife lovers, but their large number has has become a headache for the residents of the buffer-zone.

Rajanagar, Rajkanika, Aul, Chandbali and Tihidi blocks which come under Chandbali and Rajnagar Wildlife Forest Division are called as buffer-zones of this Sanctuary.

Man-Crocodile conflicts are common between May and July in the villages of Rajanagar, Rajkanika, Aul blocks in Kendrapara district along with Chandbali block in Bhadrak district. Especially, in the villages which are situated on the bank of Brahmani, Baitarani, Kharsrota, Salandi and Baitarani rivers.

The villagers and environmentalists have claimed that there are more than 500 saltwater crocodiles in the buffer-zone of the Sanctuary. Even they are found in small ponds too. Crocodiles attack people who come to take bath in the ponds or on the bank of the rivers. Even the cattles are being attacked by these reptiles.

“We are the worst sufferers. They have no sufficient food to feed these huge numbers of reptiles. So they enter the villages and attack us frequently. We are only mute spectators because of the restriction of stringent forest law,” said Prasanta Panda, a local of Eswarpur village.

However, Manoranjan Mohapatra, DFO of Bhitarakanika Forest Division has denied the statistics. He said, "Only a small number of crocodiles come to these places between the month of May and June for different reasons one of them is for mating."

According to him, on an average two people lose their lives every year due to crocodile attacks for which they himself are responsible because they dare to go there despite knowing the presence of crocodiles.

Giving information on awareness programmes being run by the authorities, Mohapatra said, “Man-Crocodile conflict have been reduced in the restricted area of Bhitarakanika Wildlife Sanctuary. People are advised not to bath at ghats of water bodies. Though the casualty is more or less decreasing, but still these heartrending things happen under the nose of the authorities.