Bhitarkanika

Why in news?

• Environmentalists expressed concern over the massive diversion of fresh water from the Brahmani river basin, which could pose a grave threat to the famous Bhitarkanika mangrove vegetation in Odisha.

Bhitarkanika:

• Bhitarkanika mangroves is a mangrove wetland in Odisha, covering an area of 650 km in the Brahmani and Baitarani river deltas.
• The Bhitarkanika Mangroves were zamindari forests until 1952, when the zamindari system was abolished; it came in the control of the odisha state forest department.
• The core area of the sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika National Park in 1998.
• The Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which bounds the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary to the east, was created in 1997

Bhitarkanika National Park:

• The park is famous for its green mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine crocodiles and countless creeks.
• It is surrounded by the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
• It was designated as a Ramsar site in 2002
• The national park is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Pathsala.
• Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary, the world's largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley Turtles, lies to the east of the region.

Fauna

• It hosts a large number of mangrove species, and is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.
• The park is home to the saltwater crocodile, Indian python, black ibis etc
• Olive ridley turtles nest on Gahirmatha and other nearby beaches.
• 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles are found in Bhitarkanika.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which of the following statements are correct regarding Bhitarkanika?

1. It is a mangrove wetland in the state of West Bengal

2. It is home to saltwater crocodiles.

3. It lies in the estuarine region of Brahmani- Baitarani Rivers.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer