Kendrapada: The outbreak of avian flu in Nadia district of the neighbouring West Bengal has triggered an alert here in the Bhitarakanika National Park in Kendrapada district.

Jairam Ramesh It is for the government of Orissa to meet the legal rules if the mammoth Posco steel project is to be cleared by him, said Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

A day ahead of a meeting with Orisa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who reiterated that project clearance is vital for both state and nation, Ramesh said:

An estimated 3.60 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles have arrived for mass nesting this year at the tranquil Nasi II (South Nasi) beach of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, according to stated DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division, Manoj Kumar Mohapatra.

The arribada phenomenon of the endangered turtles occurred from February 26 to March 7 at the golden beach near the establishment of

KENDRAPARA: As many as 1,654 estuarine crocodiles, including four crocodiles measuring more than 20 feet, were sighted by the forest officials in the water bodies at Bhitarkanika National Park during the recent census.

DFO of the Park Manoj Kumar Mohapatra said the recent census report indicates that the population of the endangered reptiles marginally increased as last year the forest officia

An estimated 114 species of migratory birds have visited the Chilika lake from the Caspian region, Lake Baikal, Russia and South Eastern parts Himalayas this winter to feed and breed, according to the State Forest and Environment Department sources.

KENDRAPARA: The crusade against illegal prawn farming is making inroads into seaside villages of Mahakalapada block. In the last two years, the forest and district officials have demolished 1,252 hectares out of the 2,529 hectares being used for prawn farming, said Prasanna Kumar Behera, the divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika National Park.

Wildlife personnel in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha have spotted 60 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles, officials said.

The figure on the number of nests may increase as the counting process of estuarine nests will go on since the breeding season is not over.

Last year, 57 nesting sites had been spotted.

KENDRAPARA: About 50 saltwater crocodile nests have been spotted near the creeks, nullahs and river system under Bhitarkanika National Park by the forest officials, during the ongoing nesting season.

On the one hand it was a major shot in the arm for the Kamala Nehru Zoo in Madhya Pradesh, with the hatching of 16 baby crocodiles of the endangered reptile species; on the other hand there were reports of

KENDRAPARA: The Forest Department has banned tourists and visitors from venturing into Bhitarkanika National Park from May 15 to July 31 during mating and breeding of salt-water crocodiles. The department will also renovate five ponds at the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Dangamala within the park, said Prasanna Kumar Behera, DFO, Bhitarkanika National Park.