Bhubaneswar: The bird population in Odisha’s famous brackish water lagoon Chilika has increased by more than 57,000 this year compared to the previous year.
As many as 11,05,040 birds belonging to different species were enumerated this year in 1,100 sq km vast lagoon this winter, as per the annual bird census conducted by the Chilika Wildlife Division.
The number stood 10, 47,968 last year.
Highest number of 4, 06,308 birds of 102 species were counted in Nalabana bird sanctuary, according to an official.
The annual bird census was conducted in all five ranges of Chilika Wildlife Division by Chilika Development Authority (CDA) staffers, officials of Chilika Wildlife Division, representatives of World Wildlife Fund-India and Bombay Natural History Society.