Chilika, Jan 20: The annual headcount of dolphins inhabiting along brackish water bodies of the Chilika Lake and Gahirmatha began on Saturday.
As per official sources, around 18 teams comprising senior officials of the State forest department, and Wildlife experts have been roped in to conduct the dolphin census here.
Each team is equipped with binoculars, a GPS set, a rangefinder, and data recording sheets for a foolproof headcount of these species, said forest officials.
The number of dolphins in Chilika and Gahiramatha this year will be known only after the census. Every year the officials calculate the number of Dolphins in Chilika and Gahiramatha.
Worth mentioning, 173 dolphins were found in Chilika Lake last year. Out of the total number, 154 were Irrawaddy while another 19 were bottle-nose dolphins. The final count will be given by the Forest Department officials after the counting exercise is over.
Apart from Chilika, the dolphin census is also underway in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in the Kendrapara district. The annual exercise is being conducted by nine teams.
