BHUBANESWAR: Tidal and turbulent weather in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary affected sighting and enumeration of dolphins as the annual survey, conducted by the Forest and Environment Department, kicked off across coastal divisions of the State on Friday.
Last year, strong tidal conditions had led to abandonment of the census operation in Bhitarkanika. Though the conditions were better this time, tidal conditions affected sightings at many places.
Sources said dolphins were sighted at about four stretches whereas in others, no sighting was possible. In Gahirmatha, Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted by the enumeration teams whereas at Khola, about four dolphins could be sighted by the teams.
Similarly, the census teams spotted more than 50 dolphins in the stretch between Babubali and Chhinchini mouths. Along Chhinchini mouth-Agarnashi stretch, the teams sighted about 100 dolphins.
''In 2015, the trend was just opposite as more dolphins were sighted between Babubali and Chhinchini mouths whereas the numbers seen at Chhinchini-Agarnashi was just about 25 two years back. It may be because the porpoises are migrating from one place to another,'' said a member of the census team.
In Agarnashi-Paradip, Paradip-Jatadhari mouth, Jatadhari-Devi river mouth and Paradip-Mahanadi Delta stretches, no sighting was made.
At Chilika, the census operation went off smoothly. Jointly held by Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and Chilika Wildlife Division, it was conducted in the entire lagoon. As many as 18 teams were engaged for the line transect enumeration of the mammals, DFO Bikash Kumar Dash said.
''Since a software is used to come up with the numbers, the Department will announce it after analysing inputs provided by the census teams,'' the DFO said. Balasore, Puri, and Berhampur divisions are also conducting the census.
While Irrawaddy dolphins have been sighted at Chilika and in some pockets of Bhitarkanika, Bottlenose, Humpback, and Gangetic species are found along the coast. Experts from Wildlife Wing, WWF India, Bombay Natural History Society, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology volunteers and members of NGOs are part in the enumeration.