Kendrapara, Feb. 13 -- The Rajnagar Mangrove Wildlife Division, home to the largest dolphin population in Odisha, has recorded 493 dolphins during the 2026 annual dolphin census, reaffirming its importance as a vital marine biodiversity hotspot.
According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vardaraj Gaonkar, the three-day census , conducted from January 20 to January 22,- identified five species of dolphins within the division.
These include the Irrawaddy dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, and Spinner dolphin.
Although this year's count shows a slight decline from last year's figure of 504 dolphins, the division continues to serve as a crucial refuge for marine mammals....