News Context: The January 2026 census in Odisha’s Similipal National Park recorded 84 mugger crocodiles, reversing a two-year decline.
- Key Findings: The West Deo River remains the primary habitat, hosting 60 of the 84 crocodiles. The count rose from 81 in 2025.
- Conservation Model: The recovery is attributed to the Ramatirtha breeding centre, which releases captive-bred hatchlings into the park's major rivers (Budhabalanga, Khairi, and Salandi) to supplement the wild population.
- Habitat Quality: As an "apex predator" of freshwater systems, the rising crocodile numbers indicate the health of Similipal's riverine ecosystem and the success of anti-poaching measures.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
