Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, India’s own mini Amazon, is now open for tourists

Bhitarkanika National Park, also popular as Mini Amazon of India, is now open for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists. Situated in the Kendrapara district of Odisha on the coast of Bay of Bengal, this wildlife sanctuary is the second largest Mangrove in India after Sundarbans. The mangrove forest is made by two river deltas of River Brahmani and Baitarani. The park along with the nearby wildlife sanctuary are a 'Ramsar site', an important wetland region having international significance.

The national park was shut down to tourists after the country was hit by the second wave of COVID-19. The park was scheduled to reopen on July 31 but things didn’t work in favor. However, now the park has completely reopened for tourists keeping in mind the mating season of the saltwater crocodiles.
For those who don’t know, the park is home to the world's largest white crocodile park. A huge number of saltwater crocodiles also live here and thousands are born during the prime breeding and nesting seasons each year. The park alone is accountable for about 70 percent of India’s saltwater crocodile population. In 1975, the park started the conservation of crocodiles.

Though the park is open, tourists to the park are supposed to follow all the COVID-19 protocols. From maintaining social distance and wearing face masks at all times inside the park, tourists will have to adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour. As per latest guidelines by the forest department, a local guide will accompany visitors mandatorily inside the park.
The forest department has trained some 40 youngsters from nearby villages as local guides. Also a good number of forest department personnel are deployed to ensure appropriate behaviour.