Post News Network
Puri, Feb 9: The forest and environment department has decided to conduct a maiden census of dolphins along 482-km long coast, including Chilika.
According to Puri divisional forest officer Chittaranjan Mishra, the counting of the aquatic animals would begin February 15 which would include six forest divisions in the state. They are: Balasroe, Bhadrak, Rajnagar, Puri, Chilika and Berhampur. The area of census operation would spread from Udaypur of Balasore district to Patsonepur of Ganjam.
The DFO also said Chilika is home to Irrawaddy dolphins only. However, Bottle Nose, Hump Back, Finless Porpoise and Gangetic species are seen in the entire coast, especially in Rajnagar and Bhitarkanika areas.
He said a training camp in this regard would be organised February 14 and counting to start the next day.
Three five-member teams were formed to carry out the census along 150-km Puri coast. Further, two trawlers and two boats will be involved in the census, he stated.
The census Chilika Development Authority and Chilika forest division would jointly conduct the census in Satapada and Chilika, the DFO added.
According to 2013 census, Chilika had 152 dolphins as compared to 145 in 2012 and 156 in 2011.
