The cyclonic storm Dana, which is anticipated to make landfall close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara in the neighbouring state of Odisha is expected to bring squally winds to Kolkata with speed reaching 60-70 Kmph, gusting to 80 kmph as it crosses Odisha and West Bengal coasts.
The official statistics of the bird census pegged their population at 1,30,123 belonging to ten species.
The census was carried out for the first time in the country to study the population analysis of these birds, said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Goipnath Sudarshan Yadav
The birds fly thousands of miles to reach Bhitarakanika to escape the harsh winter in the Himalayan region. They would stay there for about four months before flying back to where they come from.
The Geese and ducks were sighted at the highest number of 59,286 followed by Gulls, terns, and skimmer numbering 34,353.
The enumerators are covering the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, Dhamara coast, estuaries in Bhitarkanika, Hukitola, Paradip and Kujang coast.
Habelikhati Island is an uninhabited territory nestled along the Bay of Bengal. It’s nature’s paradise with forest cover and virgin sea encircling the Island. With the new facility, the Island would become a favoured eco-tourism both for the domestic and international tourists, said forest officials.
There is ample food security for the birds as the place crisscrossed by innumerable water inlets and nullahs is free of human interference, DFO Pati said.
The number of saltwater crocodiles, the species which are not found in any other river system in Odisha, as per the latest census, in Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary stood is estimated to be 1742 as per the latest census.
With the onset of monsoon, residential water birds have begun thronging Bhitarkanika. The winged species visit the heronry here in…
