Flora & Fauna Survey In Chilika Lake Springs A Few Surprises; Near-Threatened Ferruginous Ducks & Eurasian Otters Spotted

Bhubaneswar: Chilka lake abounds with 155-165 dolphins and 10.5 lakhs waterbirds, representing 105 different species. And for the first time, near-threatened ferruginous ducks and a group of Eurasian otters were spotted in the lagoon during the 2022 Flora and Fauna Survey in Chilika Lake carried out on February 1.

IRRAWADDY DOLPHINS

Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species inhabiting Chilika lake and the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has been conducting an annual population estimation survey since 2003. This year, 156 dolphins were sighted with a good number of them in Rambha Bay area along with the outer channel. The range of 155-165 was inferred from yearlong monitoring by CDA, the report said.

“The dolphins are colonizing new areas of Chiliak lagoon and this gives hope for this endangered mammal. The movement has been facilitated by clearing of gherries,” it further said.

The present distribution range of this species is only in Asia, from Chilika to Indonesia. Irrawaddy dolphins in India are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, ClTES (Appendix-l), and IUCN Red List.

The annual survey was conducted by the ‘Transact Survey Method’ followed worldwide for a population of aquatic mammals, it added.

WATERBIRDS

A thousand near-threatened Ferruginous Ducks were sighted for the first time in the lagoon during the survey, besides 2,000 greater flamingos at Nalabana. Two uncommon species, the red-necked stint and the Woolly-necked stork were spotted in the marshland of Parikud and Mangalajodi, respectively

The findings are favourable since the waterbird census conducted by the Chilika Wildlife Division during the first week of January had put the number at 10,36,220 of 103 species.

A total of 2,86,929 birds of 75 species were spotted at Nalabana sanctuary alone during the one-day survey. The most common migratory ducks found in Chilika were northern pintail, gadwall and Eurasian wigeons, each being more than 1.5 lakh. The mudflats of Nalabana and other regions of Chilika are now exposed as a result of the significant drop in water level and is habitat to more than 1.2 lakhs of waders or shorebirds such as the black-tailed godwit, little stint, ruff, curlew sandpiper, and lesser sand plover compared to the January 4 census.

EURASIAN OTTER

The carnivorous predators were spotted near the bird’s island in the southern sector of Chilika lake. This species has also been camera trapped during fishing cat estimation.