Kendrapara, Jan 13 (Reporter) As many as 1811 estuarine crocodiles were spotted in and outside the water bodies of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division (wildlife) during the head count drive of estuarine crocodiles this year. The head count drive of the estuarine crocodile was carried out from January 10 to January 12 by the forest personnel. According to Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife) DFO Gopinath Sudarshan Jadav, the Kanika range has recorded a maximum of 1422 crocodiles. The population of estuarine crocodiles has this time increased inside the Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division. In the 2023 head count drive of the estuarine crocodile census, 1793 saltwater crocodiles were spotted. The DFO said out of 1811 crocodiles spotted during the 2024 census, hatchlings (measuring below 2 feet long) were 582, followed by 387 yearlings (measuring between 2 and 3 feet), and 327 juveniles(measuring between 3 and 6 feet). The number of sub-adults (measuring between 6 and 8 feet) was found to be 167, while 348 adult crocodiles were recorded as per the status survey report this year, Jadav said. About 22 enumerator teams, consisting of wildlife personnel, crocodile experts, and researchers, conducted the head count drive in 51 segments comprising creeks, creeklets, rivers, and nallahs both inside and outside Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mahanadi Deltaic region. This year, favourable weather conditions have helped in better sightings of crocodiles in the rivers and creeks, the DFO said...////...