Orissa home to largest crocs

BHUBANESWAR: Is Orissa the home of the world's largest reptile?  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a 23-feet estuarine crocodile living in the Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa's Kendrapara district is the largest of its kind in the world.

The reptile is found in the tropical regions of Asia and the Pacific. The 2006 Guinness Book website mentioned that Bhitarkanika housed four such giant crocodiles measuring more than six metres (19 feet), the largest being 23 feet.

The report in the website said there were several unauthenticated reports of specimens up to 10 metres (33 feet) in length.

Forest officials, who said there were 1,462 saltwater crocodiles (crocodylus porosus) in the rivers and creeks of Bhitarkanika, on the edge of Bay of Bengal, said at least four of them were enormous in size.

"But they are not measured and the length of the reptiles given is on the basis of eye estimation,'' a senior official said.

Chief wildlife warden, S C Mohanty said there were five crocodiles in the sanctuary which measured between 18 feet and 20 feet and eight of the size of 16 to 18 feet.  Wildlife personnel had come across more than 60 nests during the last enumeration.