Stories
14-Foot Saltwater Crocodile Found Dead in Odisha National Park
N
News18•07-10-2026, 14:15
14-Foot Saltwater Crocodile Found Dead in Odisha National Park
- •A 14-foot-long saltwater crocodile was found dead in the Brahmani river within Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park by locals who alerted forest officials.
- •Forest teams retrieved the male reptile and sent it to the veterinary office in Rajnagar to determine the exact cause of death through an autopsy.
- •Officials suspect that illegal fishing nets causing asphyxiation might be responsible for the crocodile's demise.
- •Bhitarkanika National Park hosts nearly 70 percent of India's saltwater crocodile population, which has grown significantly since conservation efforts began in 1975.
Key Questions Answered
The exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem examination at the veterinary office in Rajnagar, though forest officials suspect illegal fishing nets may have caused asphyxiation.
Bhitarkanika National Park is home to 1,858 estuarine crocodiles, representing nearly 70 percent of India's total population of the species.
Saltwater crocodiles are strictly protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
