Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Due to the annual census of the estuarine crocodiles being scheduled to begin from January 2, 2022, the Bhitarkanika National Park in the coastal Kendrapara district will remain closed to visitors.
According to the official reports, the National Park will remain closed for visitors till January 11. The entry of the visitors has been restricted so that the headcount of the reptiles can be conducted by the survey team hassle-free as the presence of the visitors disturbs the exercise.
The estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles are claimed to be exclusively found in the water bodies like the rivers, brooks and creeks under the jurisdiction of Bhitarkanika National Park as well as its peripheral areas. As per the last census conducted in January 2021, there are 1768 estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles in the National Park and its surroundings.
