Balugaon/Brahmagiri: The census of Irrawadi dolphins in Chilika Lake begins Thursday jointly by Balugaon Wildlife Division and Chilika Development Authority.
With the team after completion of their training at CDA research center and Satapada returned to their designated places, the preparations ahead the counting came to an end Wednesday.
A total of 90 experienced staffs from both the department and other organisations divided into 18 groups. Eight groups are being deployed at Satapada where the dolphins are sighted frequently and 10 teams are being posted at outer Chilika. Each team, comprising five members, is being provided with a boat, global positioning system (GPS) and other necessary equipments.
Line-transect survey technique is being used for the census. The counting started at 6 am will continue till 12 noon.
According to divisional forest officer (DFO) Chilika Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Das any kind of boating is not allowed during the census period and tourists are for that matter not allowed to go on boating.
Notably, the population of Dolphin in Chilika was more than 160. However due to some unidentified reasons the number had reduced to 121 in 2017. Last year census brought cheer to the animal lovers as the population of these Irrawadi Dolphin stood at 162.
PNN