BHUBANESWAR: The Irrawaddy dolphin, one of the major attractions of the Chilika Lake in Odisha, appears to be facing a serious threat to its existence, thanks to alleged apathetic attitude of the authorities check unregulated and illegal movement of mechanised boats in the water body.
According to wildlife experts, the operators of merchandised boats often chase dolphins moving in flocks in the lake to provide a clear view of the aquatic species to the tourists. As a result, some dolphins sustain injuries by colliding with the boats and its fans. Very often, the wounded dolphins succumb to their injuries.
The aquatic animals also get trapped in the net of the local fishermen causing their deaths.
Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia. A rare breed of Irrawaddy dolphins are found here. It has been designated as the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The locals, however, allege that neither the concerned authorities nor the local people are concerned about the safety of the Irrawaddy dolphins, making them endangered.
“Many mechanised boats carrying tourists often enter the areas of Irrawaddy dolphins in the lake. However, as per the rule, the boats should be at least 200m away from the area. But due to lack of proper implementation, the rule is thrown to the wind. The dolphins often collide with the fans of the boats and get injured. As a result, they succumb to the injuries and the bodies of the animals are found floating on the lake every week,” said Pabitra Mohan Das, a local resident.
“Thousands of tourists visit Chilika Lake everyday to watch the scenic beauty of the lake and the attractive Irrawaddy dolphins in it. But, the dwindling number of the aquatic animal in the lake is a cause of concern,” said Kelucharan Jena, an educationist.
Though the administration has put up sign boards making the private boat operators alert not to propel boats inside the dolphin, they have scant regard for the rule due to the lack of its strict implementation.
Local Balugaon Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amlan Nayak stated that action is being taken against the boat operators who are flouting the rules.
“There has been enforcement on irresponsible tourism. Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and Chilika Forest Division are jointly taking action against the unruly private boat operators,” said Nayak.
Chilika Lake occupies a special place on the world tourism map. Thousands of visitors from across the globe visit the lake to watch its beauty. However, frequent death of the rare aquatic animal in the lake has become a cause of concern for wildlife experts, environmentalists and enthusiasts.
