At least155 endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, the flagship species of Chilika, were spotted during an annual monitoring on Saturday.
The number of sighting is more compared to the last year sighting of around 100 dolphins by the wildlife wing.
Thanks to innovative drive of Susanta Nanda, Chief Executive Chilika Development Authority (CDA), the CDA on February 24 conducted its first annual monitoring of the lake with a view to map out the number and extent of the flagship species and to study the hydrological impacts of removal of pen culture (locally known as gherries).
28 teams consisting of official members from PCCF Wildlife, DFO, Wildlife Chilika, CDA, Honorary wildlife warden, NGOs and local motorboat association participated in the monitoring.
Significantly, all the motorized boats of the fishermen and the tourist boats stopped plying between morning and noon making the monitoring programme highly successful.
Chief Executive CDA Nanda expressed deep gratitude to all concerned including the owners of all the motorized boats for their cooperation during the monitoring programme by keeping away from the lake which itself was one of its kind for the first time.
The results of the monitoring were analyzed by plotting the locational GPS. The dolphins are now seen at different sectors of the lake where they were not seen before, due to removal of obstruction for their migration.
While this has raised the hope of eco-tourism at different locations, high degree of cautions is necessary to preserve them in perpetuity by taking up responsible tourism within the carrying capacity for these endangered animals.
The lake houses around 0.9 millions of birds. No new species was identified during the monitoring. However, it has been observed that the birds, mainly the migratory ducks, have started colonizing new areas previously covered by pen culture as their new habitat. Barunakuda and the coasts of Krushnaprasad block offer tremendous opportunity for ecotourism due to congregation of the wintering guest along these new areas.
Some waders have already started leaving the lake but other migratory birds have prolonged their stay mainly because of the cool nights and increased available food in the lagoon.
The evicted area from illegal gherries amounting to 152.5 sq km has not been reconstructed and is free from pen culture. The sea grass bed which had reduced to 86sqkm during 2016 has shown a marked improvement.
This will provide ample opportunity for the mud crabs to grow. Sponge, which was documented by ZSI to be present in the lake before 1985 and had disappeared thereafter, has made its appearance indicating a clean and healthy ecosystem. Spongillaalba species was identified by the monitoring team in certain locations.
The use of zero nets for fishing has reduced significantly, but they still pose the maximum threats to the ecosystem of the lake as they are hastening siltation. Unscientific and illogical lying of the khandas is also reducing the migratory path of the juveniles and is adding to siltation of the lake.
All the three channels and the Palur canal meant for auto recruitment of fish and for discharge of sediments are free from obstruction. But, the number of nets used in the outer channel for fishing is silting up the channel at a very fast pace.
This needs to be discussed with the fishermen of these localities to prolong the life of the lagoon by promoting responsible fishery and adhering to certain self restrictions to reduce the siltation.