Bhubaneswar: Enumerators have sighted as many as 156 Irrawaddy dolphins during the annual census in Chilika Lake.
The census was conducted by 100 personnel, divided in 18 teams, on Friday. Rangefinder, GPS, and binoculars were used in the dolphin counting.
Most of the dolphins were spotted in the southern part of the lake.
However, the exact figure will be released by PCCF (WL) after the census process is over, said sources in Chilika Development Authority (CDA).
The annual survey was conducted by “Transact Survey Method” followed worldwide for the population of aquatic mammals.
Notably, the CDA has been conducting the annual estimation survey of Irrawaddy dolphin since 2003.
In Chilika, 146 dolphins were sighted in 2020 and 150 in 2019.
Also Read: Five Dolphin Species Sighted In Odisha’s Bhitarkanika
