Dolphin Census Begins In Chilika, Bhitarkanika

Bhubaneswar: The annual headcount exercise of dolphins inhabiting along brackish water bodies of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Chilika lake began on Sunday.

Official sources said, 18 teams comprising 133 officials have been engaged for the enumeration of Irrawaddy dolphins at Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.

The teams began the annual census at 6 am today. The exercise is being conducted by 10 teams at central Chilika while eight teams are carrying out the enumeration in the outer periphery of the lake using GPS sets, binoculars and rangefinder.

Apart from Chilika, the annual headcount exercise of dolphins inhabiting along brackish water bodies of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha also began today.

Rajnagar Forest Range officer, Bikash Ranjan Das informed that the census is being carried out in five ranges- Rajnagar, Kanika, Mahakalpada, Gahirmatha and Kujanga areas under the division.

The exercise is being conducted by nine teams along the water channels and sea mouth where dolphins are usually sighted.