A three-day dolphin census has begun in Odisha's Chilika Lake after dolphins were spotted at multiple locations across the lagoon, according to officials. The exercise is being conducted by the Chilika Wildlife Division in collaboration with the Chilika Development Authority to evaluate the current dolphin population, their distribution, and habitat use in Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Amlan Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Chilika Wildlife Division, stated that the census started early in the morning and will continue over the next two days. He noted that Balugaon and Satapada have been designated as operational bases for the census units.

Nayak added that 10 dolphin census units have been deployed from Balugaon, with teams following pre-defined routes. "A total of 18 routes have been mapped out using GPS points by scientists at the Chilika Development Authority," he explained. Boats are being used for the survey, each carrying five to six trained personnel.

The teams are recording dolphin sightings using binoculars and laser rangefinders to capture angles, distances, and precise locations. They note their observations in notepads and record GPS waypoints, which are then submitted to the control room for compilation. The daily survey begins at 6 a.m. and is expected to conclude around noon, depending on the length of the assigned routes. "Last year’s census recorded 174 dolphins, including 159 Irrawaddy dolphins and 15 humpback dolphins," Nayak added.