Bhitarkanika national park will remain closed for visitors for a week (from January 2 to January 8) for the annual census of the estuarine crocodiles.

"Any form of human activity will come in the way of meticulous census of these reptiles. That's why the curb on tourist footfall has been imposed," said divisional forest officer, Bhitarkanika Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Prasanna Kumar Acharya.

Thirty enumerators will carry out the crocodile census from January 3. Bird experts will also carry out a separate census in the creeks and water inlets of the sanctuary this time.

Text by Manoj Kar, Telegraph picture