Odisha: Dolphin Population In Chilika Rises To 156 | OTV News

Bhubaneswar: After rising because the favorite vacation spot of migratory birds, the Chilika lake in Odisha has additionally turned out to be a protected haven for uncommon Irrawaddy dolphins.
This got here to the sunshine after the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) carried out an annual survey on the biodiversity of the lagoon, which is the most important lake alongside the east-coast of India. The inhabitants of dolphins has elevated to 156 in 2020 towards 150 in 2019, an official mentioned.
The Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species inhabiting the Chilika Lake. The CDA in a press release mentioned that the current distribution vary of this species is barely in Asia, from Chilika to Indonesia. Irrawaddy dolphins in India are protected below the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, ClTES (Appendix-l) and IUCN Red List.
The CDA has initiated many conservation measures for the safety and conservation of Irrawaddy dolphins prior to now in shut coordination with the Wildlife Wing of state Forest Department, CDA chief govt Susanta Nanda mentioned.
He mentioned that previously there had been survey and identification of dolphin habitat within the lake for correct administration, dolphin watching protocol was formulated, sensitization coaching of vacationer boat operators was carried out, widening and deepening of Magarmukha channel was undertaken at no cost motion of dolphin from outer channel to the primary lake.
The annual inhabitants estimation survey of Irrawaddy dolphin has been carried out by CDA since 2003. The annual survey carried out on January 15, 2021 by “Transact Survey Method”, adopted worldwide for inhabitants of aquatic mammals.
Each survey workforce was geared up with binoculars, GPS, Range finder and information recording sheets.
The motion has been facilitated by clearing of gherries (unlawful embankments) at locations. One important inhabitants of dolphin is now noticed in southern sector, by shifting from different sectors, the official mentioned.
A complete of 18 groups had carried out the annual depend of the dolphin inhabitants for round six hours. While 10 groups of specialists carried out the counting in Balugaon space and eight groups had been engaged for the counting in Satapada space, he mentioned, including that restriction on the go to of the vacationers to the lake was additionally imposed in the course of the counting interval.
A fowl census carried out on January 5, 2021 additionally revealed {that a} whole of 12,42,000 people of 105 water fowl species and 26,405 people of 76 wetland dependent species, had been counted from all the lagoon.
“This year, more birds are found in Central and Southern sectors of Chilika. An increase in the population of open water preferring diving ducks was noticed during the current season, particularly in the prawn gherries evicted areas clearly indicating the beneficial impact of eviction for migratory birds,” Nanda mentioned.
The fowl survey additionally delivered to gentle the variety of waderer have elevated throughout the lake in comparison with the census date. Lesser Flamingo, Ferruginous Pochard and customary Shelduck had been encountered after an extended hole, Nanda mentioned.
During the Flora and Fauna Monitoring of Chilika Lake on January 15, 2021, 5 species of seagrasses had been reported.
Seagrass species resembling Holodule uninervis, Holodule pinifolia, Halophila ovalis, Halophila ovata and Halophila beccarii had been recorded in the course of the survey, he mentioned.
This happens over an space of 155 sq km, a rise from 152 sq km of final 12 months. Chilika now has 22 per cent of India’s seagrass space, the official mentioned.
(With PTI inputs)

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