Kendrapada: A seven-foot-long female saltwater crocodile was found dead on Saturday after its carcass washed ashore near Bengamari village on Brahmani river, within Dangamal forest range of Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district. It was the third unnatural crocodile death reported in Bhitarkanika within a month.Locals spotted the carcass early in the morning and alerted forest officials. A team reached the site, recovered the carcass and sent it to the veterinary office at Rajnagar for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. A large number of people from nearby villages gathered to see the reptile.“After retrieving the carcass, we sent it to the veterinary office at Rajnagar for its autopsy. We will know the exact reason behind the death after receiving the report. Bhitarkanika, a vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp, is home to 1,858 saltwater crocodiles, according to the reptile census report of Jan 26,” said Chitrasen Jena, forest range officer of Dangamal forest range.The latest death follows the recovery of the carcass of a three-foot-seven-inch-long female crocodile from the Hansua river near Badakota village within Bhitarkanika on Oct 22. Earlier, on Oct 6, the carcass of a 14-foot-long male saltwater crocodile, aged around 20 years, was found in the Brahmani river near Nagada village. This was the 20th incident of unnatural crocodile death in Bhitarkanika within six years and the 42th crocodile death around the park in 14 years.“High-profile spikes in fatalities in Bhitarkanika have exposed a complex web of environmental pressures, administrative gaps, and human-wildlife friction. Unnatural death of an adult crocodile in Bhitarkanika and its nearby areas is alarming. Saltwater crocodiles are covered under the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,” said herpetologist, Sudhakar Kar. He said illegal fishing, despite a ban in the park’s water bodies, could be contributing to the deaths. Crocodiles become entangled in fishing nets and may die from asphyxiation or drowning when unable to surface.