Bramhagiri: The annual Irrawaddy dolphin census in Chilika Lake began today, 20 January 2026, and will run for three days (20-22 January).Eighteen specialised teams-10 from Balugaon and 8 from Satapada-are deployed across the lake, each comprising 5-6 members, including a forest department official, a Chilika Development Authority (CDA) representative, an OUAT student, a motor-boat operator, a social worker and a media person.The counting is underway in four key zones: Satapada (four areas), the Central Sector (six teams), Southern Sector (four teams), Northern Sector (one team), and the Outer Channel (seven teams).The operations run from 6 am to 12 noon each day, with all vessel traffic-including Bhasa pola, ferry services, ghat boats and tourist boats-suspended to avoid disturbing the dolphins.The teams are using binoculars, GPS units and cameras to record sightings, following the line-transect method that has been standard for recent surveys. Last year’s count recorded 154 Irrawaddy dolphins and 19 bottlenose dolphins in Chilika, a critical indicator of the lake’s ecological healt
Dolphin census kicks off in Chilika, Boat services halted
