Puri: The annual census of dolphins began in Odisha today. The counting process started in Puri district.
At least 12 teams comprising 35 forest officials and wildlife experts have been engaged in the conduct of the census. They started from the Devi River Mouth in Astaranga and will cover up to Arakhakuda in the coastal district. The teams will visit the sea, rivers, and waterbodies and carry out the 3-day exercise to ascertain the dolphin population.
However, the counting process was interrupted today due to dense fog and chilling weather conditions.
Last year, 173 dolphins including 154 Irrawaddy and 19 bottle-nose dolphins were found in brackish water bodies of Chilika.