The Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district, renowned for the mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley turtles, has emerged as a potential habitat for Irrawaddy dolphins, a forest official confirmed on Tuesday.
Forest department officials reported sighting a congregation of 13 of these critically endangered dolphins near Bateshwar, under the Khallikote forest range, during a recent population count of the marine mammals.
The three-day dolphin census was conducted between January 20 and 22, during which the dolphins were observed surfacing and moving in groups within the specific maritime zone, according to the forest officer.
“The census has indicated the healthy presence of dolphins along the Purunabandh-Prayagi stretch” said Dibya Shankar Behera, assistant conservator of forests (ACF), Khallikote range.
While Irrawaddy dolphins are a new highlight, forest officials noted that other species, including bottlenose and humpback dolphins, have previously been identified in the same area.
Experts believe that the Irrawaddy dolphins, which are typically found in large numbers within Chilika Lake, may have migrated to the Rushikulya River mouth area.
Local villagers, particularly the fishing community, have already established a strong tradition of protecting the Olive Ridley turtles that visit the shores for mass nesting each year.
“Now the villagers are also aware of protecting the other aquatic animals like dolphins and the winged guests. We are creating awareness among the villagers for the protection of Olive Ridley, besides other animals and birds,” said the ACF.
The sighting of Irrawaddy dolphins near the estuary further solidifies the importance of the Rushikulya river mouth as a biodiversity-rich ecosystem, noted wildlife activist Rabindra Nath Sahu.
The estuary is already famous as a major rookery for Olive Ridley turtles, with thousands arriving for mass nesting during the third week of February, while also serving as a winter home for migratory birds like the Bar-headed geese, Sahu explained.
Given the area’s status as a biodiversity hotspot, Sahu urged the government to implement urgent conservation measures to ensure the long-term protection of its diverse aquatic life.
