Bhubaneswar, Feb 2 (FN Representative) As many as 156 Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted in Odisha’s Chilka lake during a census conducted by Chilika Development Authority(CDA) on February 1 last. Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species inhabiting Chilika Lake. The present distribution range of this species is only in Asia, from Chilika to Indonesia. Irrawaddy dolphins in India are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, ClTES (Appendix-l), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN0 Red List. The annual population estimation survey of the Irrawaddy dolphin has been conducted by CDA since 2003.
The annual survey, CDA sources said, was conducted by the “Transact Survey Method” followed worldwide for a population of aquatic mammals. Each survey team was equipped with binoculars, GPS, Range finder and data recording sheets. Officials said this year there was a total sighting of 156 Irrawaddy dolphins and a good number of sightings were observed in the Rambha Bay area along with the Outer Channel. The Dolphins are colonizing new areas of Chilika Lagoon and this gives hope for this endangered mammal. The movement has been facilitated by clearing of Gherries at places. In 2013, altogether 152 dolphins were sighted in Chilka Lake, that rose to 162 in 2021. Official sources said 156 dolphins were directly sighted during the monitoring and the range inferred from the yearlong monitoring by CDA.