Kendrapara: Forest personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP) here would be engaged for dolphin census which would begin from January 19 in the regions under Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division, divisional forest officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya said Friday.
The survey would be conducted in a stretch between Dhamra and Mahanadi mouth in the coastal areas under BNP. The census would help to get basic information about migrating pattern of Irrawaddy dolphins as well as other species, it was learnt.
Last year, 82 species, including 55 Irrawaddy dolphins, were spotted while officials failed to witness a single dolphin in 2016 due to inclement weather condition.
According to official sources, nine teams would be formed to carry out the drive and the members would be given training about the methods of counting of aquatic mammals.
The coastal belt along BNP is said to be the most favoured destination for Irrawaddy species after Chilika Lake. PNN
