Odisha's Secret Treasure: A Dolphin Population on the Rise

Odisha tallied a total of 710 dolphins in its recent census, a landmark development in sea conservation. The census identified 505 dolphins that reside within the Rajnagar forest division, including the Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha, and another 174 in Chilika Lake, mostly Irrawaddy dolphins. Humpback dolphins lead the tally with 498, followed by 188 Irrawaddy, 16 bottlenose, and 8 spinner dolphins. This growth in the number of dolphins is credited to effective conservation, an indicator of the well-being of Odisha's marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, experts stress the importance of ongoing protection and tighter regulations to guarantee the continued growth of the dolphin population.

Source: Odisha Wildlife News