--Dolphin population grows in State: Census
Of late. there is a sharp rise in dolphin population at the Bhitarkanika Mangrove Wetland.
As many as 540 dolphins of five types are living at the coastal water of Bhitarkanika wetland from Dhamara to Mahanadi mouth under Rajnagar Mangrove Wildlife Division, revealed a dolphin census report which was published recently.
During the dolphin count drive that was organised in six places, six species of dolphins were found in the entire including Irrawady, Bottlenose, Humpback, Stripped ,Finless and Spinner. The census was organised in Chilika lagoon, Rajnagar Mangrove wildlife division , Baleswar wildlife division, Bhadrak wildlife division, Puri wildlife division and Berhampur forest division .
208 Irrawaddy, 155 Bottlenose, 332 Humpback, 13 Stripped, three Fineless and 15 Spinner dolphins were spotted during the census drive.
According to official sources , while 167 dolphins, including 151 Irrawaddy and 16 Bottlenose, were reported from Chilika, 540 dolphins of five types of species , including 45 Irrawaddy, 135Bottlenose, 332 Humpback, 13 Stripped and 15 Spinner dolphins, were spotted at Rajnagar Mangrove forest ( wildlife) division, informed Rajnagar Mangrove Forest ( wildlife) Division DFO Dr Jangyadatta Pati.
Besides this, in Puri wildlife division, eight Irrawaddy, four Bottlenose and three Finless dolphins were spotted by the enumerators. In Bhadrak only four Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted. Not a single dolphin was spotted at Brahmapur and Baleswar Wildlife Divisions.