odisha news: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Jan 20: Following the annual mid-winter count of waterfowl, a three-day dolphin census commenced in the Chilika Wildlife Division on Monday. This important survey involves 18 teams, each comprising five to eight members, including experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
These teams are equipped with essential tools such as maps of Chilika, binoculars, spotting scopes, GPS devices, and notebooks to facilitate accurate dolphin enumeration. Chilika DFO Amlan Nayak stated that boat association members have been instructed to refrain from operating their boats during the census to minimize disturbances.
Prior to the census, a comprehensive training session was conducted for the enumerators by scientists from the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) at Barkul. In 2023, the census recorded a total of 173 dolphins, including 154 Irrawaddy dolphins and 19 bottlenose dolphins in the lake.
Additionally, the one-day bird census held on January 18 estimated the overall bird population in the Chilika lagoon at around 11.27 lakh, reflecting a slight decrease of approximately 10,000 from the previous year. Notably, the census identified 196 species of birds, an increase from 187 species in 2023, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the region.
