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.

BHUBANESWAR: The number of Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika has dropped to 145 from an estimated 156 last year and 158 in 2010, according to the latest census data. Dolphin census was conducted in the brackish water lake on Monday and Tuesday. Chilika, a Ramsar site (i.e. a wetland of international importance) since 1981, incidentally, has the largest lagoonal population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the world, ahead of Lake Songkhla in Thailand.

Berhampur: With detection of H5N1 avian influenza at two places of Odisha, a Central team on Monday visited the Chilika lake area to study symptoms of bird flu on the migratory birds. The two-member surveillance team observed the behavior of migratory birds in the lake, particularly in the Nalabana, the bird sanctuary area, said a senior officer of the Chilika wildlife division adding that as many as 8.83 lakh migratory have assembled in the lagoon area.

Bhubaneswar: The annual bird census in Chilika lake was conducted on Sunday. Like every year, the census was conducted by many as 80 experts and 17 voluntary organisations, including ornithologists from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bombay Natural History Society and National Board of Wildlife were engaged in direct count of the avian species in Chilika, which is the largest brackish lake in Asia.

BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of the annual waterfowl enumeration, Chilika’s famous Nalabana Bird Sanctuary has been declared off-limits to people till January 8. While tourists are not allowed inside, beginning Thursday, even Government officials will not be permitted entry till the Chilika Wildlife Division completes the census operation. The bird census will be held on January 7-8. The Wildlife Wing of the Forest and Environment Department have already issued an order declaring the sanctuary out of bounds to all and sundry.

BHUBANESWAR: The tiger prawns, crabs and fishes of Chilika are not just delicious but among the safest in India sans toxicity, a monitoring study by Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) has revealed.

Since fish is at the top of the food chain, they are prone to bio-accumulation and toxic substances like heavy metals, pesticides and insecticide residues are found.

However, a

BHUBANESWAR: This winter, Chilika is missing its long-legged guests. Flamingos, the flagship species for a winter bird site, are a few and far between.

Last year, number of the waders had reached 5,000 in the brackish water lagoon where these birds dot the Nalabana Sanctuary. This time the number has remained confined to just four.

Flamingos abandoning Chilika has surprised the experts.

BERHAMPUR: Many migratory birds flocking Chilika Lake, the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country, are staying back in the lake instead of returning to their original nests in summer, according to a study.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has submitted a proposal of Rs 49.54 crore before the 13th Finance Commission (TFC) for the all-round development and conservation of biodiversity in Chilika lake.

BHUBANESWAR: The back-to-back casualties of Irrawady dolphins, hit by the propellers of boats, has prompted the Wildlife Wing of Forest Department to plan a core area which could give the mammals a safe haven.

Three dolphins have been found dead in Satapada during the December-January period, the peak tourist season. In all cases they fell victim to propellers of motorised boats.