Kendrapara, Jan 27 (Reporter) The Bhitarkanika National Park officials on Monday commenced the annual dolphin census. The three-day enumeration drive will cover the stretch from Dhamara to the Mahanadi river mouth within the Bhitarkanika Mangrove Wetland, as well as rivers within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division, stated that the forest personnel have initiated the dolphin status survey across the Bhadrak Division, Kendrapara coast, and Jagatsinghpur coast, including rivers within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. A total of nine forest teams, including forest officials, cetacean experts, and researchers, have joined the census, covering the area from Dhamara to the Devi river mouth. The coastline of Bhitarkanika National Park is considered the second most favorable habitat for Irrawaddy dolphins after Chilika Lake. "We are using a direct sighting method to count dolphins and study their behavior," said DFO Jadav. The teams have been equipped with binoculars, GPS devices, maps, and cameras to aid in the survey. The counting is conducted between 6:00 AM and 12:00 noon. Gahirmatha and Bhitarkanika, off the Kendrapara coast, have emerged as two ideal habitats for dolphins...////...