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From boatmen to guides

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Playful: Irrawaddy dolphin in Chilka Lake is a major tourist attraction. —

BERHAMPUR: Chilka Development Authority (CDA) has been training boatmen operating in the Chilka Lake so that inflow of tourists does not hamper scientific studies related to Irrawaddy dolphins (Oracella brevirostris) that dwell in the lake.

During winter a large number of tourists visit the lake for Irrawaddy dolphin sightings. They helped by boatmen of Balabhadrapur, Gada, Alupatna, Chipakuda villages. The tourist season starts from October.

It is also the time when studies are taken up by experts to delve into habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins of the lake.

This year passive hydrophones would be used to study the movements, habit and sounds made by dolphins of the lake from Oct 9, informed dolphin researcher of the CDA, Mintaz Khan.

Moreover, the CDA wants ecotourism and preservation of natural tranquillity of the lake co-exist, said Mr Khan.

So, CDA authorities are holding workshops for boatmen of the lake, who carry tourists for Irrawaddy dolphin sightings, so that tourism does not hamper the natural movement and habitat of the dolphins.

Till now around 200 boatmen have been trained. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CDA Sudarsan Panda, DFO of Chilka wildlife division G.Rajesh and Mr Khan are holding these training camps of boatmen.

During these camps the boatmen are also being provided basic scientific knowledge regarding dolphins as well as flora and fauna of Chilka Lake so that they can prove to be able guides for the tourists.

The boatmen have been directed to stop engines of their motor boats at a distance of over 100 meters from the dolphins. From there they can paddle softly to reach a distance of around 50 meters from the dolphins, which is the closest allowed distance between tourists and dolphins.

"We are advising boatmen to never encircle their boats around a group of dolphins and approach these shy animals from one side only so that the dolphins not interested in humans get ample scope to escape from the spot," experts of CDA said.

Usually tourists with small ‘fixed focus’ cameras persuade boatmen to take them closer to the dolphins so that they can take pictures.

The CDA authorities have asked boatmen to discourage photographing of Irrawaddy dolphins unless they are taken from a distance with cameras with zoom facility.

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From boatmen to guides

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