Dolphin Census Begins at Chilika Lake Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The annual dolphin census at Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, will commence on Monday and continue for three days, officials said.

For the exercise, 18 special teams have been constituted, each comprising three to five enumerators along with a domain expert. The teams will carry out the census in the Balugaon and Satpada regions adjoining the lake, which are known habitats of dolphins.

The census will be conducted using the scientific line transect method. Teams will be equipped with GPS devices, binoculars, and hydrophones to ensure accurate counting and identification of dolphin species.

To facilitate a smooth and disturbance-free census, movement of boats in the lake will be prohibited between 6 am and 12 noon during the survey period. The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the Forest Department have already informed all boat associations operating in the area about the restrictions.

According to official records, last year’s census counted 173 dolphins in Chilika Lake, including 154 Irrawaddy dolphins and 19 bottlenose dolphins. The annual exercise is aimed at assessing the dolphin population, monitoring the health of the lake’s ecosystem, and strengthening conservation measures.