By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, February 25, 2018: Chilika – the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia has emerged as the single largest habitat of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the world, according to Chilika Development Authority (CDA).

The CDA conducted its first Annual Monitoring of the lake on Saturday with an aim to map out the number and extent of the flagship species and to study the hydrological impacts of removal of pen culture (locally known as gherries).

Analysing the results of the monitoring, officials said the team spotted 155 endangered Irrawaddy dolphins which compares favorably around 100 dolphins during the annual census last year. The range of population is about 145-160.

Irrawaddy dolphins are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In Chilika they can be seen singly, in pairs or as small groups of 4-6 individuals. They are fairly slow swimmers.  This species can grow to a length of 2.3 m and attain a weight of 130 kg. This species is closely related to the killer whale, a much larger, oceanic dolphin that can grow to 8m and weigh in excess of 6 tonnes, experts said.

“The dolphins are now seen at different sector of the lake where they were not seen before, due to removal of obstruction for their migration. While this has raised the hope of eco-tourism at different locations, high degree of cautions is necessary to preserve them in perpetuity by taking up responsible tourism within the carrying capacity for this endangered animals”, a release by the CDA added.

However, the team did not find any new species of bird in the lake which houses around 0.9 million birds which is similar to the trend of population over the years. “However, it has been observed that the birds, mainly the migratory ducks, have started colonizing new areas previously covered by pen culture as their new habitat”, the release said.

What is heartening to note that the evicted area from 152.5 square kilometer of illegal gherries in Chilika lake  have not been reconstructed and is free from pen culture. The sea grass bed which had reduced to 86 sq. kms during 2016 has shown a marked improvement and with ground trothing stands at 135. Sq.kms indicating improved hydrological condition of the lake.

This will provide ample opportunity for the mud crabs to grow. Sponge, which was documented by ZSI to be present in the lake before 1985 and had disappeared thereafter, have made their appearance indicating a clean and healthy ecosystem. Spongilla alba species was identified by the monitoring team in certain locations.