An adult estuarine crocodile inside an enclosure at Bhitarkanika national park. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, June 2: Wildlife personnel have spotted 28 nesting sites of the estuarine crocodiles in Orissa’s Bhitarkanika national park.

The reptiles, however, are showing signs of violence over acts of human interference into their nesting corridors.

“The crocodiles, during nesting period, become violent due to human interference. Mother crocodiles constantly maintain vigil near the nest and the reptiles retaliate and pounce on human trespassers,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer of the Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division.

At present, the national park is out of bounds for tourists in view of the nesting season.

Since May 15, the prohibition has been imposed and it would remain in effect till July 31 after the completion of annual breeding season of these animals.

“Inhabitants of villages near the national park often intrude into the croc-infested waterbodies inviting danger for themselves,” Mahapatra said.

This year, two human casualties, due to crocodile attack, have been reported. “Since the commencement of reptiles’ breeding season, we have also received two reports of crocodiles attacking people near the Khola and Gupti creeks within the national park. Though we don’t have official confirmation, we are told that three similar incidents have occurred in the area. The victims were either fishing or collecting crabs from the waterbodies within the national park. Human activity of this nature is prohibited within the 145sqkm park area. Thus the offenders, injured by the crocodiles, are not going to be covered under compensation package earmarked for animal attack victims,” said the official.

Wildlife enumerators of the forest department have spotted the nesting sites along innumerable nullahs, creeks and water inlets in the Bhitarkanika river system, an ideal habitat for saltwater crocodiles. The figure on the number of nests may further increase as counting process of the estuarine nests is continuing.

Last year, 56 nesting sites were spotted.

Female crocodiles lay around 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nest after an incubation period of 70 to 80 days. An estimated 700 crocodile hatchlings were sighted emerging from the nesting sites last year.

Wildlife staffs are maintaining strict vigil on the nesting sites so that the eggs were not devoured by predators such as, snakes, wild jackals and wild dogs, found abundantly in the mangrove forest. Care is being taken to ensure the crocs are not disturbed. As per the latest census, the number of saltwater crocodiles, which are not found in any river system, stands at 1,654.