KENDRAPARA: The Bhitarkanika forest department has imposed a two-and-half-month ban from May 15 to July 31 on entry of tourists and visitors to Bhitarkanika National Park during the mating and nesting season of salt-water crocodiles.

The forest department will also renovate five ponds at the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Dangamala within the park, said Prasanna Kumar Behera, DFO of the park.