Odisha Sets Up 22 Camps to Protect Migratory Birds in Chilika

The Odisha Forest Department has established 22 temporary protection camps across Chilika Lake ahead of the annual arrival of migratory birds. Two mobile patrol units and a dedicated control room have also been deployed to strengthen surveillance.
According to Chilika Wildlife Division DFO Amlan Nayak, each camp will have 2–3 personnel and remain operational until March. Tangi range has the highest number of camps with 11, followed by Balugaon (4), Rambha (3), and Satapada and Chilika ranges (2 each).

Around 12 boats will conduct round-the-clock patrols to prevent poaching. The migratory birds, arriving from regions including Siberia, Kazakhstan, the Caspian area, Lake Baikal and northern Eurasia, are expected to reach Chilika from next week.
Last winter, Chilika recorded 11.32 lakh birds belonging to 196 species, including over 11.10 lakh migratory birds from 106 species. Officials said the current high water level following recent rains may influence this year’s bird arrival.