Angul: The annual crocodile census at Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district began Monday morning and will continue through January 9.
To facilitate the counting, boating activities in the Mahanadi river have been suspended for tourists, and fishing has been prohibited. The census is conducted every winter when the cold weather prompts crocodiles to emerge from the water and rest on riverbanks or sandy areas, making them easier to spot and count. Forest department personnel use binoculars, cameras, and small boats to conduct the census.
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Observations are typically carried out between 6am and 12pm, as crocodiles are more visible during this time. The sanctuary has deployed 14 teams for the census, each consisting of three observers and two Forest personnel, totalling 70 trained Forest workers. These teams will carry out the counting at various locations within the sanctuary, where crocodiles are most commonly found.
Saroj Panda, Divisional Forest Officer of Satkosia Wildlife Division, said the census aims to identify crocodile populations in the Mahanadi river and its surroundings.
PNN
