KENDRAPARA: Amid the floods in Kendrapara district, several estuarine crocodiles have been reportedly swept into inundated riverside villages from their natural habitat in Bhitarkanika National Park, prompting forest authorities to issue safety warnings.
The warnings cover villages in Aul, Pattamundai and Rajkanika blocks where crocodiles have been spotted in swollen rivers, ponds and floodwaters. Forest officials suspect that the reptiles were carried away by strong currents from Bhitarkanika during the floods.
Forest range officer of Bhitarkanika Chittaranjan Beura said villagers in flood-hit areas have been advised to move cautiously due to the added risk of displaced crocodiles.
On Thursday, residents of Srirampur village reportedly spotted a large crocodile near a pond. A saltwater crocodile was also sighted in the floodwaters of Alapua village under Pattamundai block. Similar sightings have been reported from Singhgaon, Taradipal, Penthapala, Andara, Baluria and Balipatana villages under Pattamundai block, besides Dimiripal, Aragala, Desahi and Patapada in Aul.
The crocodile sightings have also disrupted the livelihood of local fishermen. “We usually catch fish in the floodwaters. But the presence of crocodiles has made it too dangerous to venture into the water with our nets,” said Vikram Behera, a fisherman from Penthapala village.
The growing presence of crocodiles has heightened anxiety among villagers, particularly in view of the increasing incidents of human-crocodile conflict in the region.
According to the Forest department data, estuarine crocodiles have claimed five human lives in the past 16 months while 15 people have died in crocodile attacks in the past three years. Bhitarkanika is home to more than 1,800 saltwater crocodiles.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bhitarkanika National Park Varadaraj Gaonkar said the Forest department has intensified monitoring in flood-hit areas. “Floodwaters often force crocodiles out of their natural habitat. The reptiles may enter residential areas or even be mistaken for floating debris. Once the floodwaters recede, the displaced crocodiles are expected to return to Bhitarkanika,” he said.
The DFO urged villagers to remain vigilant, noting that saltwater crocodiles often move over flooded land in search of food when their normal feeding grounds are submerged.