Dolphin census conducted at Chilika lake

Berhampur: Annual dolphin census was conducted in Chilika Lake by Chilika Development Authority (CDA) on January 17, 2012. It may be noted that the Chilika Lake in Odisha, which spreads in three districts, Ganjam, Khurda and Puri and covers 1,100 square km is one of the largest salt-water lakes in the country and Asia.

It is home to numerous species of fishes, birds including the Siberian Duck and Ibis and endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins. These friendly Oceanic Dolphins who get their name from Myanmar's most important river, are found mainly in and around the Bay of Bengal and South East Asia. The local fisherman in Ganjam and Puri consider them lucky and it was believed that they drive fish towards their nets.

The Executive director of CDA, Ajit Patnaik said 18 teams were involved in this census. According to last year's dolphin census there were 156 Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika Lake.

Source: The Hindu