The three-day dolphin census in Chilika Lake is set to begin on Tuesday and will continue until January 22. The counting will cover 18 routes across the Balugaon and Satapada sectors, with 18 teams deployed for the exercise. Each team will consist of one wildlife expert and three to five enumerators, conducting the census daily from 6 am to 12 noon.
To ensure smooth operations, wildlife authorities have requested all motorboat associations to suspend boat activities during the counting hours. Key institutions participating in the census include OUAT, the Geological Survey of India, local fishermen associations, Grow With Nature, and other organisations.
Last year, the census recorded 159 Irrawaddy dolphins and 15 humpback dolphins in Chilika Lake. DFO Amlan Nayak stated that foggy conditions can pose challenges, which is why the census will be spread over three days. Once the counting is completed, a detailed report will be submitted to the PCCF Wildlife, followed by the announcement of the final results.
