The recent dolphin census data released by Odisha has brought to light a remarkable increase in the dolphin population in and around Chilika, India’s largest brackish water lake. Numbers have effectively doubled in 2021 compared to the previous year, attributing a significant part of this rise to the eviction of illegal fish enclosures.
Detailed Census Data
According to the collected data, three distinct species, namely Irrawaddy, bottle-nose and humpback dolphins, have marked their presence in Chilika and along the Odisha coast. Specifically, the population count has shot up from 233 in the preceding year to an impressive 544 in the present year.
About Irrawaddy Dolphins
Irrawaddy dolphins are native to coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, with populations also found in the rivers Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo), and the Mekong. A stretch of the Mekong River between Cambodia and Lao PDR is home to the Mekong River Irrawaddy Dolphins. Marked as endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed under Appendix I in both CITES and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), these aquatic mammals enjoy protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Indo- Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins favor the shallow coastal waters of the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and Australia for their habitat. In terms of conservation status, they are listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List and under Appendix II on CITES.
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins
Populating the breadth of the Indian Ocean from South Africa to India, the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin is another species native to these waters. It enjoys protection under the same laws and conventions as the Irrawaddy dolphins, being recognized as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and listed in Appendix I of CITES and CMS, and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Chilika Lake
Occupying a commanding position on the east coast of India, separated from the Bay of Bengal by a slim sand strip, Chilika Lake is renowned as Asia’s largest, and the world’s second-largest lagoon. Spanning over Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha, this sprawling body of water covers an area greater than 1,100 square kilometers at the mouth of the Daya River.
Chilika Lake is a crucial wintering site for migratory birds within the Indian subcontinent and provides refuge to several threatened species of plants and animals. Its importance was internationally recognized in 1981 when it was designated as the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
A prominent sight at Chilika is the Irrawaddy dolphins, mainly spotted off Satapada Island. The sizable Nalabana Island, also known as the Forest of Reeds, declared a bird sanctuary in 1987, covers approximately 16 sq km of the lagoon area. Another significant attraction is the Kalijai Temple, situated on an island within the lake.
