Paradip, Jan. 22: Bathing ghats located in crocodile-infested rivers in and around Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary will be barricaded with galvanised steel to protect bathers from crocodile attacks.
The forest department is carrying out the work to install galvanised steel barricades in at least 17 bathing ghats vulnerable to crocodile attacks.
Bhitarkanika is home to 1,671 crocodiles, says the latest census that was carried out on January 16.
"The forest department has identified around 34 villages as crocodile-infested zones and instructed local sarpanchs and gram panchayat representatives to alert the villagers. The bathing ghats at these villages have been secured by steel and bamboo barricades. People have been told to bathe in the barricaded areas," said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest divisional officer Bimal Prasana Acharya.
Earlier, the department had tried to secure the bathing areas with bamboo barricades. However, these are neither durable nor do they stand repeated crocodile attacks. Consequently, the department has to refurbish the barricades with new stumps every year. The strong galvanised steel barricades will not require such periodic repair work, said an official.
The reptiles become more itinerant during the breeding season that will begin shortly. The estuarine crocodiles venture into newer water bodies, creeks and water inlets in search of partners, thus exposing residents of the riverside villages on the periphery of the national park to attacks.
The villagers have also been asked to stay cautious while venturing into water bodies.
Public announcements, including distribution of leaflets and advisories to residents, are being made at the villages.
"We have alerted villagers as the breeding season of the reptiles is about to begin. It's a precautionary measure to curb man-animal conflict," said Acharya.
The department has asked villagers to remain vigilant. There has been no report of crocodile attacks during the past one month. However, the department has received reports of reptiles making their way into village-side water bodies.
