Bhubaneswar: Launching the enumeration drive of Irrawaddy dolphins the forest officials and expert today launched counting of the aquatic species in Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara along with Chilika Brackish water lake in Puri today.
A total of 9 teams comprising of 25 experts undertook the census procedure of the Dolphins in Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) division and Kanika,Mahakalpada, Gahira Matha and Kujang forest divisions starting from the morning today.
The Dolphin census drive which is being held for the fifth consecutive year from Dhamra to Mahanadi mouth on the Odisha coast with Bhitarkanika mangrove wetland, is aimed at collecting basic information about migrating behaviour of Irrawaddy Dolphins as well as other species.
Similarly, Dolphin census also started in outer Chilika area in the Bay of Bengal. While a total of 10 teams of Puri Wildlife Division took part in the enumeration, a team started the counting from Arakhakuda sea mouth-Chandrabhaga stretch starting from morning 6 am. It was followed by separate teams taking up the task of Dolphin census in Mangalajodi and Astarang zones.
The Dolphin enumeration continued at both the places till 12 noon.
Ms Kalinga