Bhitarkanika National Park

Bhitarkanika National Park is located in the Kendrapara district in Odisha.
It was designated in 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site in 2002.
It is surrounded by Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary.
The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Pathsala.

Interesting Facts about Bhitarkanika National Park

It is India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sunderbans.
The area is also been designated as the second Ramsar site of the State after the Chilika Lake.
It is home to the largest congregation of endangered Salt Water Crocodiles in the country.
The park holds the Guinness World Record for spotting the largest male saltwater crocodile in the world which weighed 2,000 kg in 2006.
Bhitarkanika is also home to eight varieties of Kingfisher birds which is also a rarity.

19 April 2023:
- India’s first Mangrove Pitta Bird census is conducted In Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park.
12 January 2023:
- The recent census report of birds released by the forest department in Odisha said that the number of migratory birds in Bhitarkanika National Park has risen to 1,39,959 this winter compared to last year’s count of 1,38,107 birds.
12 September 2022:
- The number of newborn saltwater crocodiles in BNP reached a record 3,700 this year during the nesting period.