Puri, Odisha – The annual dolphin census at Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, kicked off today from the Satpada region. Eighteen dedicated teams are set to conduct a meticulous three-day survey to track the population of Irrawaddy dolphins and other marine life.
Chilika Lake spans across Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam districts, renowned not just for its ecological richness but also as a prime tourist destination. Designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1981 – the first in India – it swells to 1,165 square kilometers during monsoons and shrinks to 906 square kilometers in summer. Winter brings flocks of migratory birds, while activities like fishing, dolphin spotting, and nature trails draw crowds year-round.
The Irrawaddy dolphin, a small species named after Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River, finds its only inland home in Chilika among Odisha’s ten coastal dolphin species. They’re also spotted in Gahirmatha and Bhitarkanika. Soumya Ranjan Sahu, Assistant Wildlife Warden at Chilika, detailed the operation: teams underwent training at Satpada and Balugaon, employing boat-based transect methods. Boats traverse pre-set routes three times for accuracy, equipped with handheld GPS, range finders, binoculars, cameras, and data sheets.
All teams launched simultaneously from assigned sectors, mostly Satpada, with day one’s survey complete. Data analysis follows the three-day effort. Last year, humpback dolphins joined the count, with sightings varying by water levels and weather.
Sahu urged visitors to ditch single-use plastics, use provided dustbins, and avoid chasing dolphins too closely, as it disrupts their natural behavior and poses risks. WWF India’s Sadhvi Sindhura emphasized the survey’s role in long-term monitoring. Eight teams surveyed today on scientifically mapped routes, recording behaviors in standard international formats.
‘Dolphin numbers and health mirror Chilika’s ecosystem vitality,’ Sindhura noted. ‘A thriving dolphin population signals a healthy lagoon, sustaining fishermen and tourism livelihoods.’ This census underscores conservation’s link to community futures.