Over 2,500 baby saltwater crocodiles have successfully hatched in Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha’s Kendrapada district. This event marks the conclusion of the annual breeding and nesting season for these reptiles. Emerging from 122 nests, the newborn estuarine crocodiles have made their way to various water bodies in and around the national park. The park’s forest officials discovered a total of 122 nests, each laid by a female crocodile and containing around 30 to 40 eggs. After an incubation period of 70 to 75 days, approximately half of the hatchlings in each nest are born. Interestingly, one particular nest saw the birth of about 20 hatchlings. Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, the divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika National Park, shared these details. Notably, herpetologist and former wildlife researcher of the forest department, Sudhakar Kar, noted that out of 500 baby crocodiles, only one typically survives to reach adulthood.
Over 2,500 baby saltwater crocodiles have successfully hatched in Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha’s Kendrapada district. This event marks the conclusion of the annual breeding and nesting season for these reptiles. Emerging from 122 nests, the newborn estuarine crocodiles have made their way to various water bodies in and around the national park. The park’s forest officials discovered a total of 122 nests, each laid by a female crocodile and containing around 30 to 40 eggs. After an incubation period of 70 to 75 days, approximately half of the hatchlings in each nest are born. Interestingly, one particular nest saw the birth of about 20 hatchlings. Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, the divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika National Park, shared these details. Notably, herpetologist and former wildlife researcher of the forest department, Sudhakar Kar, noted that out of 500 baby crocodiles, only one typically survives to reach adulthood.
