KENDRAPARA: THE 77-day ban on the visit of tourists to Bhitarkanika National Park was lifted today and the visitors were allowed into the park. The ban was imposed from May 15 to July 31 so as not to disturb the salt water crocodiles (Crocodilus porosus) during the mating and nesting season. The female reptiles laid eggs in sixty nesting sites inside the mangrove forest near the water bodies of the park areas and guard the eggs till the emergence of the hatchlings from the eggs. Forest guards have been instructed to keep a watch on the eggs in the forest as wild animals like snakes, wild boars and fishing cats feast on the eggs. Forest guards also keep watch on the movements of the mother crocodiles which tend to attack humans when disturbed. Many local forest dwellers illegally enter the forest areas to collect honey and wood during which the reptiles get disturbed, informed a forest official. Hatchings would emerge from the eggs with a week. Last year, 57 salt-water crocodile nesting sites were spotted at the creeks, nullahs and river systems in the park by the forest officials. As per the census carried out in January 2008, there are 1498 salt water crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika river system, said the forest official. During the ban period, the forest department renovated five ponds at the crocodile breeding centre at Dangamal within the park and repaired two watch towers inside the park. Tourists can now watch the nesting and migratory birds at the