The carcass of a 14-ft-long male saltwater crocodile was found floating in the Brahmani river on Tuesday. Forest officials sent the body for an autopsy to find the cause of death. Illegal fishing often traps these reptiles in nets. This marks the 18th unnatural crocodile death in six years.
Kendrapada: The carcass of a 14-ft-long male saltwater crocodile, around 20 years old, was found floating in the Brahmani river near Nagada village within Bhitarkanika National Park on Tuesday."It was spotted by some locals who intimated the forest authorities. A team of forest officials retrieved the carcass of the crocodile. After retrieving the carcass, we sent it to the veterinary office at Rajnagar for autopsy. The exact cause of death will be known after receiving the autopsy report," said Santanu Dalai, forest range officer, Bhitarkanika.Fishing is banned in the park's water bodies. Some fishermen allegedly continue to fish illegally in its rivers and creeks. Illegal fishing has been blamed for crocodile deaths in Bhitarkanika, as the reptiles become entangled in fishing nets and die from asphyxiation or drowning when unable to surface. The last such carcass, that of a seven-ft-long female saltwater crocodile aged around 10 years, was found on June 8 in the Hansua river near Gopalpur village within the national park. Saltwater crocodiles are listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, said herpetologist Sudhakar Kar.This is the 18th unnatural crocodile death in six years and the 40th around the park in 14 years. Bhitarkanika is home to 1,858 saltwater crocodiles, according to the Jan 2026 reptile census report, said environmentalist Hemant Rout of Kendrapada.