Places in News- Bhitarkanika National Park: • Bhitarkanika N | UPSC PRO

Places in News- Bhitarkanika National Park:

• Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha, is famous for its mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine crocodiles, and countless creeks.

• It is India’s second-largest mangrove forest.

• The Bhitarkanika is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

• Bhitarkanika is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems.

• It is said to house 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975.

• Bhitarkanika is home to a wide range of fauna, including 3,000 spotted deer, bird species and other species such as wild boars, jackal, hyenas, jungle cat, fishing cats, water monitor lizards, rhesus macaques, common languor, Indian civet cat and hare.

• The area was designated a national park in September 1998 and as a Ramsar site by UNESCO in August 2002.

Why in News?
Cyclone Yaas fells hundreds of trees in Bhitarkanika, hit on fauna being assessed.

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