Chilika Lake Dolphin Census Underway Using 18 Teams and GPS Boats
The three-day count uses GPS-fixed transects with drones to refine population and movement estimates across Asia’s largest brackish lagoon.
Overview
- Surveys began around 6 a.m. on January 20 from base points at Satapada and Balugaon and are scheduled to run through January 22.
- Authorities split 18 units across 18 predefined routes, with 10 teams operating from Balugaon and eight from Satapada.
- Enumerators deploy GPS devices, drones, binoculars and laser rangefinders while following the Chilika Development Authority’s line-transect method.
- Tourist motor-boat services are paused each morning from 6 a.m. to noon during the operation to limit disturbance to dolphins.
- This round will update the 2025 benchmark of 174 dolphins in Chilika, including 159 Irrawaddy and 15 Bottlenose, as coastal enumeration proceeds in parallel.