Daily News Analysis

Bhitarkanika National Park

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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.

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