The bird population in the Chilika lake has increased by a margin of over 57,000 as the number stood at 11,05,040 after this year’s bird census, a forest official said.
“As many as 11,05,040 birds belonging to 184 species were enumerated this year. Highest number of 4,06,308 birds of 102 species were counted in Nalabana bird sanctuary,” said Divisional Forest Officer, Chilika Wildlife Division, Alok Ranjan Hota.
Notably, the avian population in Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon was 10,47,968 last year.
The annual bird census was carried out yesterday in all five ranges of the Chilika Wildlife Division by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) staffers, representatives of the World Wildlife Fund-India and the Bombay Natural History Society.