Tourists can watch Dolphins springing out in the Chilka Lake of Orissa,a eastern state of India while taking a boat ride.Chilka Lake is about 70 km long and about 32 km wide. Chilka is the largest brakish salt water lagoon in Asia.Chilka gets direct water from Mahanadi river.The max. dept of this lake 132 meters.In India, the Irrawaddy dolphins are only found in Chilika.According to a survey two years ago,the number of Irrawaddy dolphin in Chilka Lagoon-135.This includes 115 adults,15 sub adults and 5 calves.The marginal increase has been possible due to active co-operation from local fishermen.According to Chilika Development Authority and other organisations, awareness programs help a lot in this regard.Chilika Development Authorities strict guidelines to attach propeller guards in tourisits’ boats to prevent injuries to dolphins.Local fishermen and boatmen also realiaze that it is important to protect Dolphins for their livelihood.
Numbers of Irrawaddy dolphins increase further.Now the population of Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika:146.
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