**7. Saltwater crocodile**

It is regarded as the Earth's largest living crocodile species. This variety of crocodilesis basically known as man-eater. In India apart from Bhitarkanika, one can find this variety in The Sundarbans (West Bengal) and Andaman and Nicobar Island. This variety is considered as a threatened species as per IUCN list and it is the IUCN List of Threatened Species that is included in schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of India 1972.

Saltwater crocodiles are also called Indian muggers. The saltwater crocodile, as evident by its name, can tolerate saline environments very well, that is why it is typically found in brackish water around coastal areas and rivers. The saltwater crocodile (*Crocodylus porosus*) is the largest of all crocodilians and the largest reptile in the world. Bhitarkanika is a very good place to sight the giant Saltwater Crocodile, some of them are growing to 23 feet in length. They are also known as man-eater [7].

One can find the saltwater of estuarine crocodile in the Brahmani and Baitarani River delta region popularly known as Bhitarkanika national park of Odisha. Being an endangered species, the estuarine crocodile population was sharply declined due to extreme poaching, hunting, as well as due to exploitation. So, keeping in mind the above, a conscious effort was first initiated by the forest department of Odisha in form of launching a conservation project popularly known as project Baula.

This project was mainly funded by the FAO of UNDP initially [8]. As a result of this project, several crocodiles were released and also some rare varieties of crocodiles were supplied to other projects launched in different states of India. As a result of this project, illegal trapping and killing of crocodiles were stopped.

Efforts have been made every year to count the crocodile population inside Bhitarkanika. It was also observed that night-time is considered to be the best time in comparison to the daytime for counting crocodile numbers because of hatching and yearling. The study was mainly conducted to make sure that all classes of crocodiles should be present in different places showing a better sign of variable population resulting in a positive sign of showing an increase in crocodile population.

#### **7.1 Major objectives of crocodile conservation projects in Odisha/Bhitarkanika**

To protect the remaining population of crocodilians in their natural habitat by creating sanctuaries, to rebuild natural population quickly through 'grow and release' or 'rear and release' technique that involves the following phases of operation, to promote captive breeding to increase crocodile population, to take-up research to improve management as apart of scientific study on crocodile population and their behaviour, to build up the skills of the personnel for better continuity of the project through trainings imparted at the project-sites and the Central Crocodile Breeding and Management Training Institute, in different states of India including Odisha and to involve the local people intimately to maintain ecological balance and improve economic conditions [9].

*Development of Eco-Tourism Vis-à-Vis Conservation Measures for Protecting the Endangered… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102502*

The Project aimed at maintaining the ecological disbalance caused by deaths of crocodiles in the river basins. To make this happen, three research units on crocodile conservation were established at Dangmal, Tikarpara and Nandankanan Biological parks in Odisha.

#### **7.2 Baula project at Dangmal**

In Oriya literature, Estuarine or saltwater crocodiles are popularly known as 'Baula'. Accordingly, a Baula Crocodile Project has been introduced in Dangmal inside Bhitarkanika Wildlife sanctuary. Under this project, several tests have been conducted successfully in a phase wise manner. In this process, eggs of saltwater crocodiles were collected and kept under supervision for breeding to increase the crocodile population inside Bhitarkanika. This project was found to be successful in increasing the population but also balancing the ecological set-up inside the national park.

The Crocodile Conservation Project was launched in 1975 in different States. As a result of the programme, the estimated number of saltwater crocodiles increased from 96 in 1976 to 1640 in 2012 in India (**Table 1**) [10].


#### **Table 1.**

*Saltwater crocodile population in Bhitarkanika.*

#### **7.3 Gahirmatha sanctuary**

Gahiratha is a popular marine sanctuary situated in the state of Odisha famous for being the world's largest mating and nestling place for the most endangered Olive ridley turtles. Established in 1997, it covers an area of 1435 sq. km. Extending from Dhamara River from the north to Brahmani River form the south of Kendrapada districts of Odisha. Apart from Gahirmatha, one can find mass nesting and mating centres for Olive ridley turtles in Rushikulya and Devi River [11, 12].

The Project aimed at maintaining the ecological balance caused by deaths of crocodiles in the river basins. To make this happen, three research units on crocodile conservation were established at Dangmal, Tikarpara and Nandankanan Biological parks in Odisha.

#### **8. Olive Ridley turtles**

This is the smallest and most abundant of all available sea turtles found in the entire world. This species is listed as one of the most vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List, Appendix 1 in CITES, and listed in schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This variety of turtle is characterised by mass nesting where thousands of


#### **Table 2.**

*Arrival details of olive Radley turtles to Bhitarkanika/Gahiramatha sanctuary.*

female turtles move together to specific places on a regular basis again and again to lay eggs. Normally, a female Olive Ridley Turtle lays eggs up to 100–150 eggs each generally during the night in the small pits they dig, leaving the beach after covering the holes with sand. The hatchling process starts after 45–60 days and then these small turtles crawl into the sea in the absence of their parents [13].

#### **8.1 Major threats to turtles in Bhitarkanika are**

Unfriendly turtle fishing practice by the fishermen, development of tourist activities at the nesting places especially Dangmal and Ekakula, more fishing activities in the specified route in which turtles are generally coming to Gahiramatha for laying eggs, excessive use of speed boats and trollers, development of new ports alongside the nesting ground and presence of wild animals in the nesting areas.

**Role of government,** especially the forest department is taking concrete measures to ensure a smooth mating period followed by laying of eggs in the Gahiramatha area. The major activities in this regard include:

The Forest Department's intensive patrolling, including at night, had helped decrease turtle mortality especially during the mating season, banning of use of fishing and use of fishing net in the turtle route in which they are coming to lay eggs, banning the use of trawlers in the area by earmarking the route, The Forest Department also keeps a watch on fishing trawlers venturing into the area up to 10 km into the sea from different entry point to Bhitarkanika. Especially from Balasore from north side to Andhra Pradesh from the south side, The forest Department had also started fencing the beach between Gokharakuda and Bateswar, to pave the way free from predators and facilitate smooth mass nesting by the turtles. Last but not the least, the local community-based social organisations were also helping in cleaning activities by sensitising the locals as well as the tourists (**Table 2**).

#### **9. Endangered flora of Bhitarkanika: mangrove ecosystem**

No doubt, the Saltwater Crocodile Conservation Programme has ensured the survival of crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika Sanctuary that has been in operation for more than four decades but the major issue to give a new lease of life, the possibilities lie in managing the area as a Biosphere Reserve containing the mangrove ecosystem.

Recent studies show that the mangrove forest is diminishing due to lack of freshwater supply in the mangrove areas and anthropogenic pressures from the surrounding areas including illegal encroachment for shrimp culture, agricultural activity etc. Another important issuethatis responsible for reducing the mangrove forest is due to regular occurrence of cyclones in the state of Odisha. Because of its adjacent proximity to the sea, most of the times the cyclones are

*Development of Eco-Tourism Vis-à-Vis Conservation Measures for Protecting the Endangered… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102502*

hitting this area especially causing devastating the mangrove forest ecosystem and as a result, it is also observed that the migratory bird populations are also reducing slowly to these areas because of loss of mangrove trees inside the biosphere reserve.

Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary has become a floristic composition, nature of distribution, sociability, rarity present in this region for better tourism. Natural area tourism has a major effect on the economy of the country since it provides direct and indirect employment opportunities to raise the standard of living of the host population. In view of this fact, it is felt that there is an urgent need to conserve this sanctuary for a better tourism point of view [14].

#### **10. Conservation measures by government**

Mangrove plantation and Nalia grass (*Myriostachya wigstiana*) plantation has been taken up under this programme on riverside of 5 km. as a pilot programme in Bhitarkanika Ramsar site to prevent soil erosion and also natural conservation with livelihood enhancement.

The women are the most vulnerable during disasters for collecting drinking water and sanitation. So, the platforms of 150 nos. Existing tube wells have been raised to the high flood level to avail the drinking water facility during flood. For better sanitation management during the time of flood, 850 nos. of high raised plinth toilets have been installed in coastal flood-affected villages. To manage the ecosystem in water logged areas, proper drainage facility has been created. The creeks of 8 km have been renovated as a pilot programme to release the flood water fast from the project villages.

The government is now encouraging participation in the implementation of Govt. owned programmes, the community has been capacitated by providing training as well as facilitating the action in the field. The Govt. programmes like sanitation, insurance, MGNREGS, horticulture, agriculture, fishery, forest, child welfare etc. has been included in the project villages through convergence.

A massive awareness program has been undertaken by the district administration supplemented with the formation of an anti-poaching camp at different strategic points to stop the poachers away from poaching. To encourage eco-tourism, training camps for eco-tourism guides and boat-man associations are being organised in a regular time interval.

Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India provides funds related to digging, plantation programs, including renovation of creeks and ponds to improve habitat inside the sanctuary.
