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Bhitarkanika national park

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1731561678Screenshot 2024-11-14 104719.jpg

Topic: Protected Areas

Why in the news?

  • Even as Bhitarkanika national park is likely to face the brunt of cyclone Dana, the denudation of mangrove forests has put areas near it at a greater risk.
  • Mangrove forests shelter the seaside villages from the worst impact of storms. But a large number of rich and influential prawn mafia cleared the green cover for their gheris as a result of which around one lakh residents of 45 villages around Bhitarkanika have been spending sleepless nights as the cyclone is nearing the coast.

Source: The New Indian Express

About Bhitarkanika national park: 

  • It is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.
  • It is India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sunderbans. 
  • It is a 145 Sq km large national park which was designated on 16th September 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site in August 2002, i.e. the second Ramsar site of the State after the Chilika Lake. 
  • It encompasses a network of creeks and canals which are inundated with waters from rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Patasala, forming a unique ecosystem.
  • Flora: 
    • Mangrove species, casuarinas, and grasses like the indigo bush are found here.
  • Fauna:
    • It has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodiles in India.
    • The Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
    • Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otters, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolves, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.

Mangroves:

  • These are a unique type of coastal ecosystem found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are dense forests of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that thrive in intertidal zones, where land meets the sea.
  • These ecosystems are characterized by their ability to withstand harsh conditions, such as saline water, tidal fluctuations, and muddy, oxygen-poor soils.
  • Mangroves exhibit Viviparity mode of reproduction, where seeds germinate within the tree before falling to the ground. This is an adaptive mechanism to overcome the challenge of germination in saline water.
  • Some mangrove species secrete excess salt through their leaves, while others block the absorption of salt at their roots.
  • Mangrove plants have special roots like prop roots and pneumatophores, which help impede water flow and provide support in the challenging tidal environment.

 

 

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