Carcass of Irrawaddy dolphin found on bank of Chilika Lake in Odisha’s Khurda

Khordha: An Irrawaddy dolphin was found dead today on the bank of the largest brackish water Chilika Lake near Gopabandhu Nagar locality under Balugaon civic limits in Khurda district.

According to a private source, some locals spotted the endangered aquatic animal in the morning while it was lying on the bank with blood oozing out of its mouth.

“Perhaps the Irrawaddy dolphin had sustained grievous injuries after being hit by either a trawler or a mechanised boat and then it succumbed to injuries,” the locals expressed.

It is pertinent to mention, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List conservation status, the Irrawaddy dolphin has been declared critically endangered.

Irrawaddy dolphins are seen in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments throughout south-east Asia. However, the only concentrated lagoon populations are found in Chilika Lake.