Paradip: The hatchery and rearing complex of saltwater crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika National Park of Kendrapara district has been thrown open for tourists after four years of renovation.

The complex had been closed for renovation in 2013. The forest department designed the renovated complex to give open space for the baby crocodiles to live in a nature-friendly environment.

"The old complex that had been set up in 1975 was renovated under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management programme at the cost of Rs 57.83 lakh," said the national park's divisional forest officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

With the facelift, the facility has been converted into a modern hatchery and rearing complex. It is now expected to be an exciting experience for visitors to catch a glimpse of baby crocodiles in the enclosure from a close distance.

The department had stopped crocodile breeding and rearing programme five years ago as the conservation measures were no more required. The crocodile population had jumped up from 96 in 1974 to more than 1,682 till the present day.

However, the department decided to renovate the rearing centre to attract more tourists.

Eggs are collected from the wild for artificial breeding. It's also a major attraction for researchers and herpetologists. The centre is home to 74 crocodile hatchlings, said an official.

The Ramsar wetland site of Bhitarkanika is the congenial habitat of saltwater crocodiles with the swampy mangrove-infested region housing the largest number of the reptiles. The region has innumerable water inlets, creeks and nullahs all forming the part of the Bhitarkanika river system.