In a first-ever census of its kind in the country, forest officials in Odishas Bhitarkanika have sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds, which are known for their exotic and vibrant colours. These beautiful birds are found exclusively in the mangrove forest areas of Bhitarkanika in Odisha and Sundarban in West Bengal. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species has been assessed and classified as Near Threatened

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The Mangrove Pitta birds habitats are limited to mangrove forests in Bhitarkanika of Odisha and Sundarban in West Bengal.

The first census in India was conducted to analyze the Population of these birds.

The highest number of these birds were sighted in the Mahipura river mouth area of the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary