Bhitarkanika National Park
- The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha was ravaged by Cyclone Yaas.
- Hundreds of trees, mostly casuarina, palm, coconut, and other trees were uprooted by the violent winds.
- This National Park is situated in Kendrapara district and is India’s second-largest mangrove forest.
- The Bhitarkanika is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
- It is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems.
- It is said to house 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975.
- Bhitarkanika is home to a wide range of fauna, including 3,000 spotted deer, bird species, and other species such as wild boars, jackals, hyenas, jungle cats, fishing cats, water monitor lizards, rhesus macaques, common languor, Indian civet cat and hare.
- The area was designated a national park in September 1998 and as a Ramsar site by UNESCO in August 2002.