Census of dolphins would be conducted on the seacoast between Dhamra to Devi river along the Bhitarkanika National Park on Friday, informed Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and Wildlife DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
The enumeration drive will be carried out in the park for the second consecutive year. The census would help provide basic information about migrating behaviour of Irrawaddy dolphins as well as other species.
According to Acharya, at least six species of cetaceans namely Irrawaddy dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Humpback dolphin (Sousa chine sis), Humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbean) Pan Tropical Spotted dolphin and Finless porpoises were spotted during the first census. As many as 58 Irrawaddy dolphins, 23 Bottlenose, 123 numbers Sousa chinensis, 50 Sousa Plumbea, 15 Pan Spotted and one Finless Porpoise dolphin were sighted by the enumerators.
While Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted in the Bhitarkanika National Park and its adjoining areas, other species had been found in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary area within a kilometer from the coastline. The lone Finless Porpoise was sighted near Hukitola.