The annual census of dolphins began in Bhitarkanika national park and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary areas besides at Chilika lake in the state on Wednesday.
The census will be a three-day exercise in which teams comprising over 100 wildlife experts will conduct the headcount of the mammals. Each team is equipped with binoculars, GPS set, rangefinder and data recording sheets for foolproof headcount of these species, said forest officials.
The survey of dolphins is being conducted by the “Transact Survey Method” followed worldwide for a population of aquatic mammals.
The Odisha coast has emerged an ideal habitat for dolphins with an impressive rise of 35 per cent in population of these delicate marine animals, according to the annual census report released by the wildlife wing of the State Forest and Environment Department earlier this year,
As against 544 species counted last year, 726 dolphins were sighted by the census operation conducted from 16 to 18 December, 2021 in five coastal divisions and from 9 to 11 January, 2022 in Chilika lagoon, said forest officials.
Six species of Irrawaddy, Bottlenose, Humpback, Striped, Finless and Spinner Dolphins have been recorded during this estimation or the census exercise in the entire State.
The Rajnagar Mangrove Wildlife division, comprising the Bhitarkanika national park and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, had recorded a massive jump of 58 per cent in dolphin population, Chilika, the largest brackish water lake along India’s eastern coast, has recorded a drop in dolphins’ number.