Bhubaneswar: A Gangetic Dolphin was sighted in Jalaka river in Odisha’s Balasore district today.
The villagers in Basta area of Balasore rescued the aquatic animal and released into a pond, sources said.
On being informed, the officials of the Forest department reached the village and made arrangements for releasing the dolphin back to the river, sources said.
“The villagers rescued a Gangetic Dolphin from Jalaka river today morning. They released it into a pond without informing anything to the Forest department. We came to know about the incident later. Our officials rushed to the spot and held discussions with the villagers. The aquatic animal will be released back to the river after medical examination,” said Balasore Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ganesh Lenka.
The dolphin might have strayed into Jalaka from Budhabalanga river, he added.
A few Gangetic Dolphin had been sighted a Budhabalanga river some years ago, said a source in the Forest department.
