Dolphin census begins in Odisha
Dolphin census begins in Odisha
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Bhubaneswar: The annual dolphin census in the Odisha water bodies of Chilika and Gahirmatha began at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to reports, the State Forest and Environment Department has created 27 teams outfitted with binoculars, GPS devices, and cameras/handycams to perform the census, which will last until December 23.
At least eight Satpada teams and ten Balugaon teams have been deployed in Chilika. In Gahirmatha, nine teams have been assigned to tally the votes.
Local volunteers and members of the Motor Boat Association will also participate in the three-day yearly drill. According to sources, boat ferrying on the lake is restricted until 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
"In Chilika, the census began in 2015. The activity provided us with information about the number and type of dolphins that live in Chilka. This year, the Forest Division has also organized dolphin awareness sessions, which is a great step," environmentalist Biraja Pati told local media.
It is worth noting that the population of dolphins climbed from 544 in 2021 to 726 this year, according to the most recent annual dolphin census report, which was released on March 30. Gahirmatha reported larger numbers than Chilika.
According to the 2022 dolphin census, the dolphin count at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and nearby regions in Bhitarkanika increased from 342 to 540, with 45 Irrawaddy, 135 bottlenose, 332 humpback, 13 striped, and 15 spinner dolphins.
Previously, forest workers observed 39 Irrawaddy, 22 bottlenose, and 281 humpback dolphins during the 2021 census.
The number of dolphins in Chilika Wildlife Division fell from 188 in 2021 to 167 in 2022.
