Puri, Jan 21: Under the supervision of the District Forest Officer of Puri, the Konark Forest Division conducted a dolphin census on Tuesday morning. The survey covered the Chandrabhaga sea coast, from the Keluni river mouth to the Ramchandi river mouth. During the census, 15 bottlenose dolphins were spotted in three separate groups, swimming playfully in the sea. Tourists visiting the area also expressed delight at witnessing these rare marine mammals.

The survey was led by Forest Officer Sudarsan Dehuri, with 15 departmental staff participating, including forest guard Tapan Nayak, observer Sethi, Kartikeswar Munda, Rakesh Pati, forest protector Manas Mukhi, Sasmita Singh, and Rashmita Pusti. Officials noted that favorable environmental conditions have contributed to the presence of these rare dolphin species along the Chandrabhaga coast.

Meanwhile, a similar census was conducted in the Astarang Wildlife Sanctuary from 6 a.m. Four teams participated in the survey, with two teams covering land areas and two teams monitoring the water regions. Dolphins were recorded near Devi Mouth, Jahania, Gangadevi, Daluakani, and Keluli Mouth. The forest staff used videography, photography, and GPS tracking to document the sightings.

The census aims to monitor dolphin populations in Odisha’s coastal waters and ensure their conservation.