Bhitarkanika National Park

Odisha’s Bhitarkanika national park will soon be connected by rail as the proposed Jajpur Road-Dhamra railway line will pass through the park.

• Location: It is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.
• It is India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sunderbans. 
• The national park that is sprawling across 672 km² of mangrove swamp is situated on a delta formed by rivers, namely Brahmani, Baitarani, and Dhamra.
• The national park was established in September 1998 and was built in the heart of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, founded in 1975. 
• Proximity to the Bay of Bengal makes the soil of the area enriched with salts; the vegetation and species of the sanctuary are comprised of those that are mainly found in the tropical and subtropical intertidal regions.
• It is home to a multitude of mud huts, creeks, backwaters, and estuaries.
• The area was designated as the second Ramsar Site of the state in August 2002.
• Flora: 
  • It houses various species of mangrove spread across its forest region, marshy lands, creeks, etc. 
  • Thespia, casuarinas, sundari, and indigo bush grasses are some of the other varieties of flora that flourish in the area.
• Fauna:
  • Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodiles in India.
  • Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
  • Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otter, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolfs, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.