Deaths of Irrawaddy dolphin in Chilika lake

• An Irrawaddy dolphin was found dead in Odisha’s Chilika Lake and the carcass was enmeshed in a fishing net.
• It is the 8th dolphin death reported from Odisha in last 8 months.
• According to forest department, around 146 Irrawaddy dolphins and 17 bottlenose dolphins were observed in Chilika lake in 2020.

Irrawaddy dolphin:

• This species of dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong.
• Irrawaddy dolphins, scientific name “Orcaella brevirostris”, are quite shy, and all that can be seen of them most of the time is a dorsal fin or a tail fluke.
• In 2021, 188 dolphins were counted in Chilka lake, which includes 162 Irrawaddy dolphins and 26 bottlenose dolphins.

Conservation:

• IUCN Redlist status: Endangered
• Protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Chilka Lake:

• It is the largest brackish water lagoon of India which spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha State on the east coast of India.
• Chilka, largest coastal lagoon in India, located at the mouth of the Daya River.
• It is designated as ‘wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention in 1981.
• It is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals, and also the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent
• Kalijai Temple is located on an island in the Chilika Lake.