Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Forest Department officials along with the members from Chilika Development Authority and OUAT have started the three day Irrawaddy Dolphin counting exercise from today. The counting has begun from 6 am in the morning. In total, 18 teams have been formed to survey and count the dolphin population in Chilika. A training program of the personnel was also held yesterday in this regard.
The forest department is also conducting dolphin counting in Kendrapada’s Gahirmatha and Puri’s Astaranga areas. While nine teams of the forest department are involved in Gahirmatha, four teams will participate in the counting in Astaranga area.