Bhitarkanika National Park
Odisha’s Bhitarkanika national park will soon be connected by rail as the proposed Jajpur Road-Dhamra railway line will pass through the park.
About Bhitarkanika National Park:
- Location: It is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.
- The national park that is sprawling across 672 km² of mangrove swamp is situated on a delta formed by rivers, namely Brahmani, Baitarani, and Dhamra.
- Proximity to the Bay of Bengal makes the soil of the area enriched with salts; the vegetation and species of the sanctuary are those that are mainly found in the tropical and subtropical intertidal regions.
- It is home to a multitude of mud huts, creeks, backwaters, and estuaries.
- The area was designated as the Ramsar Site in 2002.
- Flora:
- It houses various species of mangrove spread across its forest region, marshy lands, creeks, etc.
- Thespia, casuarinas, sundari, and indigo bush grasses are some of the other varieties of flora that flourish in the area.
- Fauna:
- Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodiles in India.
- Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
- Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otter, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolfs, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.