BHUBANESWAR: A team of scientists from Japan arrived here on Monday to study the migratory behaviour of the threatened Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika lagoon. One of the less-studied cetacean species, Irrawaddy dolphins’ dropping numbers in the brackish water lagoon had prompted Chilika Development Authority to set up a permanent station project at the lake’s mouth to study their pattern of migration.In January this year, the annual census had put the dolphin population at 145 which was a 10 per cent drop compared to last year. What was intriguing was the significant drop in mortality (just one death was reported) of the species leading to the belief that the cetaceans might be migrating to Bay of Bengal and vice versa although it has not been established yet. “The permanent monitoring station project at the lagoon’s mouth is aimed at collecting data to strengthen the population assessment of Irrawaddy dolphins through visual and acoustic observation. A major component will be monitoring possible migration and habitat use of the mammals,” CDA Chief Executive Dr. Ajit Kumar Patnaik said. The stationary observatory around mouth of the lagoon is expected to establish the migration model for understanding the population dynamics. The CDA is already in an agreement with Tokyo University for acoustic technology study of underwater behaviour of the dolphins since 2006 and it has now proposed to go for advanced observations to develop a strategy for conservation of dolphins. The systems have been used for the Ganges river dolphin’s observation in the past. The CDA plans to study the new mouth, near Rambhartia for monitoring possible migration. That apart, it will also carry out assessment at Outer channel (Mahisa Ostapalli) for arriving at a safe dolphin watching protocol, evolving a carrying capacity of mechanised boats as well as habitat-use.
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