Re-survey of dolphin in Chilika to be held on Jan 18

BHUBANESWAR: “Due to bad weather, dolphin count could not be conducted on Tuesday in the Asia’s largest brackish water lake Chilika,” informed Chilika Development Authority (CDA) chairman Ajit Patnaik. The re-survey of the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaellabrevirostris) population would be held on January 18, he said.

Patnaik said the extremely fog condition could not help the enumerators and experts to count the marine mammals. “Our team couldn’t complete the survey in the portions of Rambha and its nearby areas, though it’s a one-day affair. As the count couldn’t be completed on Tuesday, we postponed the census operation to January 18,” he added.

The dolphin lovers have to wait for few days to know the right number of these intelligent animals living in the wetland which has been designated as a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance).

Seventeen teams consisted of some volunteer organisations and experts from various institutions including members of a local dolphin club were engaged in the survey with CDA and Chilika Wild Life Division on Tuesday. The total number of survey transect were 18 numbers as the experts used Line Transect Method for the survey of the dolphins.

Last year, the number of baby dolphin had been increased from 4 to 11, though overall population of dolphin decreased in the lagoon to 145 against 156 in 2011 and 158 in 2010, official records show.