CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP) of Odisha has become the largest habitat of the endangered estuarine crocodiles in India with a record number of their nesting sites spotted in it.

Detailed explanation-2: -Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodile in India and is globally unique in that, 10% of the adults exceed 6 m length. Nearly 1671 saltwater crocodiles inhabit the rivers and creeks.

Detailed explanation-3: -One of the places where the Nile is home and habitat to a big population of crocodiles is in Murchison Falls National park. Murchison falls has the highest concentration of crocodiles in Africa.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Crocodile Breeding Centre, situated at 35 Kms from Ranchi on Ormanjhi-Sikidiri Road at Muta, was commissioned in the year 1987 under the IUCN programme of conservation of endangered species.

Detailed explanation-5: -Saltwater crocodile The largest specimen was found in Odisha, and reached 7.0 m (23.0 ft). Its population numbers about 300. Saltwater crocodiles live in the mangroves of Bhittarkanika and Sunderbans, Mahanadi Delta, and in the swamplands in Odisha and West Bengal (including rivers).