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Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, situated on the delta
of Brahmani-Baitarani river systems is located in
Rajnagar Tehsil of Kendrapara district. It is the
second largest viable stretch of mangrove forest in
the Indian mainland.
The area is intersected by a network of tidal creeks
and rivulets, with varieties of wildlife, particularly
crocodiles in water, herds of deer on the bank and
migratory birds in the sky, making the place a
nature's wonderland. Covering an area of 170-sq-kms,
Bhitarkanika has been declared as a wildlife sanctuary
since 1975.
Reptiles are the dominant species here. The area is
equally rich in mammals, birds, amphibians and fishes
besides insects and other micro fauna. This has the
largest concentration of estuarine crocodiles with as
large as 22feet. The Gahirmatha beach in this
sanctuary is also the largest rookery of "Olive
Ridley" turtles in the world.
Fauna
:
Bhitarkanika presents a variety of habitats,
microhabitat and climatic conditions. Therefore, the
faunal component and faunal diversity is also
extremely high in comparison to other mangrove forest
areas of Orissa. The habitat diversity includes
agricultural fields, rivers, fresh water ponds, rich
mangrove vegetation, tidal rivers, creek and creek
lets, estuaries, mud flats, fresh water and brackish
water wetlands, river line islands, off shore islands,
muddy and sandy coast line etc. which provide home for
a varied and large number of animal species. Mangroves
serve as roosting, nesting, feeding, breeding and
nursery ground of tidal rivers in tidal forests and in
the estuarine food web. Mangrove plants are the source
of rich food for the organisms of the mangrove
ecosystem. The animals that are associated with the
mangroves cover a wide range of vertebrate and other
invertebrates including protozoans and zoo planktons.
The vertebrate fauna includes a wide variety of
fishes, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals
including aquatic mammals. Because food and shelter is
not a limiting factor in Bhitarkanika. The number of
animals of a species are also very rich. Bhitarkanika
Sanctuary is home for the largest number of salt water
Crocodiles in the country. "Bagagahana" the heronry
provides nesting and living space to about 80,000
resident and local migratory birds. Also the numerous
wetlands scattered throughout the Sanctuary serve as
feeding and wintering grounds for more than 50,000
migratory birds during winter and early summer months.
The Sanctuary is the World's largest nesting ground of
the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle(Lepidochelys
Olivacea).
[* * *
Scientific Name of The
Indian Animals***]
Mangrove ecosystem supports a range of interconnected
food chains which directly sustain the fisheries to
exist. Algae and detritus sustain shrimps and prawns
which provide a food source for species such as Bhekti (Lates Spp.). Cat fishes, etc. Fish and
prawns spend most of their adult life at sea and
return to the mangrove areas where they spend their
early life. Some of the commercially important fishes
are illisha (Hilsa illisha). Khainga (Mullet
Spp.). Bhekti
(Lates calcifer). Kantia (Mustus
qulio). Kokill or Anchovy (Coilia dussumier)
etc. Some fish species that are of interest as
aquarium fishes include Rice fish
(Oryzias melastigma), Panchx (Aplocheilus ponchax).
Puffer fish (Chelonodon fluviafilis). Terapon
jurbua. Acer fish (Toxotes Jaculator),
Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus). Dwart
gourami (Colisa lalia). Species Eleotrid (Sleeper).
Glass fish (Chanda Spp.). Pipe fishes, Mud
skippers (Periophthalmus and
Bolephthalmus Spp.) etc. The mud skippers are
able to survive short periods of aerial exposure, skip
around on the water and mud and build chimney like
burrows in muddy banks of river and creeks through out
the Sanctuary.
In the whole of South-East Asia as well as in the
Northern Indian Ocean countries Bhitarkanika is famous
for its reptilian fauna. It is an unique reptilian
refuge. The reptilian fauna is largely dominated by
Indo-Chinese elements. The longest estuarine crocodile
of the World measuring more than seven meters long are
located here.
Partial albino specimens (Sankhua variety as they are
locally known) are also found. The Sanctuary is the
home for all the three species of Indian monitor
lizards including giant specimens of India's largest
lizard, the water monitor lizard
(Varanus salvator,
Python
Python Molurus).
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