Abstract

Some of the world's most biologically productive ecosystems are also the most vulnerable. One such ecosystem is Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park which is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India, after the Sundarbans, in terms of its remarkable biodiversity, which includes the largest saltwater crocodile population in India. This paper focuses on analyzing the current state, problems, and future potential of Bhitarkanika as an emerging ecotourism destination using a mixed-method approach involving quantitative analysis of existing data, qualitative evaluation of stakeholder perceptions, and extensive literature review. It relies heavily on contemporary empirical studies, such as survey results among 470 people (Mohanty et al., 2024), household-level economic impact (Das & Chatterjee, 2024), and current policy reports. Results suggest that even though ecotourism has had notable economic impacts on participants through better asset ownership, better living standards, and lesser dependence on natural resources, a number of problems remain. They include the issue of illegal land grabbing (Times of India, 2025), illegal cultivation of prawns (OrissaPOST, 2025), poor regulation (OTV News, 2025), human-wildlife interaction (Nayak, n.d.), and poor infrastructure. This study puts forward an institutional model for the sustainable development of ecotourism, which considers conservation issues and improved lives of the local communities. The policy suggestions include enhancing institutions, benefit sharing, interpretive facilities, and adaptive co-management approach.

Keywords: Bhitarkanika, Mangrove Ecotourism, Community-Based Conservation, Protected Area Management, Sustainable Tourism, Saltwater Crocodile Conservation, Livelihood Impacts