Bhitarkanika Mangroves

A mangrove wetland in India's Odisha state

Bhitarkanika Mangroves[1]

Ecology
Realm| Indomalayan realm
Animals| saltwater crocodile, olive ridley turtle
Geography
Area| 650 km2 (250 sq mi)
Country| India
State| Odisha
Coordinates| 20°43′51″N 86°51′59″E﻿ / ﻿20.730696°N 86.866511°E﻿ / 20.730696; 86.866511
Oceans or seas| Bay of Bengal
Rivers| Brahmani River
Climate type| Am

Ramsar Wetland

Designated| 19 August 2002
Reference no.| 1205[2]

Bhitarkanika Mangroves  is a mangrove wetland in Odisha, India, covering an area of 650 km (400 mi) in the Brahmani River and Baitarani River deltas.

## History

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The Bhitarkanika Mangroves were zamindari forests until 1952, when the government of Odisha abolished the zamindari system, and put the zamindari forests in the control of the state forest department. In 1975, an area of 672 km2 (259 sq mi) was declared the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. The core area of the sanctuary, with an area of 145 km2 (56 sq mi), was declared Bhitarkanika National Park in September 1998. The Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which bounds the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary to the east, was created in September 1997, and encompasses Gahirmatha Beach and an adjacent portion of the Bay of Bengal. Bhitarkanika Mangroves were designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002.[3]

## Flora and fauna

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A saltwater crocodile in Bhitarkanika Mangroves

About 62 mangrove species occur in the Bhitarkanika Mangroves, including Avicenna, Bruguiera, Heritiera and Rhizophora. Reptiles present in the mangroves include saltwater crocodile, king cobra, Indian python and water monitor. Between August 2004 and December 2006, 263 bird species were recorded, encompassing 147 resident and 99 migrant species. A heronry encloses about 4 ha (9.9 acres), where 11,287 nests were counted in 2006.[4]

Olive ridley turtles arrive in January to March for nesting at Gahirmatha Beach. An average of 240,000 nests per season was estimated between 1976 and 1996. Up to 80,000 turtles were captured every year until 1982. Since 1983, collecting and marketing turtles and their eggs has been banned.[5]

## See also

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* Mangroves in India

## References

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1. ^ "Bhitarkanika Mangroves". Protected Planet. Archived from the original on 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
2. ^ "Bhitarkanika Mangroves". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
3. ^ "Ramsar Convention Official site". Archived from the original on 2013-12-12.
4. ^ Gopi, G. V.; Pandav, B. (2007). "Avifauna of Bhitarkanika mangroves, India". Zoos' Print Journal. 22 (10): 2839–2847\. doi:10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1716.2839-47.
5. ^ Rajagopalan, M.; Vivekanandan, E.; Pillai, S. K.; Srinath, M.; Bastian, F. (1996). "Incidental catch of sea turtles in India" (PDF). Marine Fisheries Information Service. Technical and Extension Series (143): 8–17\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2019-05-19.

## External links

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* Bhitarkanika.org Archived 2021-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
* Mangroves of Orissa (Orissa State Forest Department: Wildlife Organisation)
* Bhitarkanika Trip report - Wildlife Times
* Bhitarakanika : Tourists Place in Odisha
* YouTube Video

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of Odisha

Biosphere reserves|

* Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

National parks|

* Bhitarkanika
* Similipal

Wildlife sanctuaries|

* Baisipalli
* Balimela
* Balukhand-Konark
* Bhitarkanika Mangroves
* Chandaka
* Debrigarh
* Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
* Hadgarh
* Kapilasa
* Karlapat
* Kondakameru
* Kotgarh
* Kuldiha
* Lakhari Valley
* Nandankanan
* Saptasajya
* Satkosia Tiger Reserve
* Sunabeda Tiger Reserve
* Ushakothi

Bird sanctuaries|

* Chilika Lake
* Nalbana Bird Sanctuary

Zoos|

* Nandankanan Zoological Park

Protected areas of India

* v
* t
* e

Ramsar sites in India

Andhra Pradesh|

* Kolleru Lake

Assam|

* Deepor Beel

Bihar|

* Kanwar Lake

Goa|

* Nanda Lake

Gujarat|

* Khijadiya
* Nalsarovar
* Thol Lake
* Wadhvana Wetland

Haryana|

* Sultanpur National Park
* Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

Himachal Pradesh|

* Chandra Taal
* Pong Dam Lake
* Renuka Lake

Jammu and Kashmir|

* Hokera Wetland
* Hygam Wetland
* Shallbugh Wetland
* Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
* Wular Lake

Karnataka|

* Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Kerala|

* Ashtamudi Wetland
* Sasthamkotta Lake
* Vembanad-Kol Wetland

Ladakh|

* Tsomoriri
* Tso Kar

Madhya Pradesh|

* Bhoj Wetland
* Sakhya Sagar
* Sirpur Lake
* Yashwant Sagar

Maharashtra|

* Nandur Madhameshwar
* Lonar Lake
* Thane Creek

Manipur|

* Loktak Lake

Mizoram|

* Pala Wetland

Odisha|

* Anshupa Lake
* Bhitarkanika Mangroves
* Chilika Lake
* Hirakud Reservoir
* Satkosia Gorge
* Tampara Lake

Punjab|

* Beas Conservation Reserve
* Harike Wetland
* Kanjli Wetland
* Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve
* Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
* Ropar Wetland

Rajasthan|

* Keoladeo National Park
* Sambhar Lake

Tamil Nadu|

* Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary
* Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve
* Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
* Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
* Karikili Bird Sanctuary
* Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary
* Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest
* Pichavaram Mangrove
* Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex
* Therthangal Bird Sanctuary
* Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary
* Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary
* Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
* Vellode Bird Sanctuary
* Vembannur Wetland Complex

Tripura|

* Rudrasagar Lake

Uttar Pradesh|

* Bakhira Sanctuary
* Haiderpur Wetland
* Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
* Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
* Saman Bird Sanctuary
* Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
* Sandi Bird Sanctuary
* Sarsai Nawar Jheel
* Sur Sarovar
* Upper Ganga River

Uttarakhand|

Asan Barrage

West Bengal|

* East Kolkata Wetlands
* Sundarban Wetland

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