The Forests and Environment Department on Sunday began counting dolphins for the first time in the State’s coastal ecosystems and shorelines apart from the Chilika lagoon. The counting would be done at two coastal ecosystems, Chilika and Bhitarkanika, and off the Baleswar, Brahmapur, Bhadrak and Puri coasts. The area of census operation spreads from Udaipur in Baleswar district to Pati Sonepur in Ganjam district, according to an official.
As many as 12 species of dolphins were sighted off the coast of which at least six species of Irrawaddy, Finless Porpoise, Bottle Nose, Hump Back, Spinner and Gangetic species have been recorded in the Bhitarkanika and Rajnagar areas. Sources said, officials of the coastal DFOs, wildlife officials and other staffs were imparted training on species identification, sighting and recording on Saturday to facilitate the census.
Nine teams, consisting of 40 wildlife experts and forest officials, have been constituted for the headcount at the Bhitarkanika Marine Sanctuary. This apart, three five-member teams have been formed to carry out the census along 150-km-long Puri coast. Two trawlers and two boats have engaged for this purpose. The census teams have been armed with binoculars, global positioning system (GPS) equipment and data recording sheets apart from other essentials. According to 2014 census, Chilika had recorded dolphin population at 158, followed by 152 in 2013, 145 in 2012 and 156 in 2011.