Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

A sprawling expansion of 650 sq km, which houses rich marine vegetation, dynamic and salt tolerant varieties of trees, accumulated land, rivers, estuaries, mud flats, creeks and backwater Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary acquires a unique position. Regarded as one of its kind in the entire Asia, this sanctuary is famous as a natural abode of the estuarine crocodiles.

Every year the rare species called Olive Ridley Sea Turtles flock here and that forms a major attraction of the park. Considering its wide popularity, the authorities have proclaimed this sanctuary as a national park in the year 1998.

This thick mangrove forests with wetlands showcases a pulsating ecosystem and its lush greenery serves as a natural asylum for large number migratory and exotic birds that includes winter migratory birds from central-Asia and Europe. The area near Suajore creek at the sanctuary is a hub of Cormorants, Asian Open Bill, Black Ibis, Egrets, Darters, and many other precious inhabitants of the avifauna.

Beside this, it is a natural habitat for other species like reptiles and mammals. The other animal force in the Sanctuary includes King Cobra, Indian Python and Water Monitor Lizard, Rhesus Monkey, Wild Pigs, Sambars and Spotted Deer.