The Hindu : Threat to Chilka's dolphins

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 18, 2002

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Threat to Chilka's dolphins

Bhubaneswar Nov. 17. Increasing use of mechanised tourist boats in the Chilka lake is posing a major threat to the lagoon's tiny endangered dolphin population, according to the Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO). As many as 11 dolphins of the `Irrawady river Dolphin' species, described as `Chilka's natural heritage', had been killed during 2001 and 2002, and two of them were found dead only last month, the WSO Secretary, Biswajit Mohanty, said in a statement here today.

Chilka has a small population of the `Irrawady river Dolphin' species (Orcealla Brevirostris) mostly sighted in the lake's central sector and the outer channel close to Satpada fishing base, Mr. Mohanty said.

There were hardly any dolphin casualties in the earlier years, the WSO Secretary said, adding it was believed that in the last two years, deaths were caused by the long propellers of mechanised tourist boats.

Dolphin population in the lake is estimated to be 50-55 now. The 2-2.15 metre long creatures were also sighted in Songkhala lake in Thailand on rare occasions, he said.

The WSO official said that as there was no regulation governing tourism activity in the Chilka, these highly-endangered animals were now in real danger of being extinct.

— PTI

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