410
better intermixing of the tidal infl ux from the sea
and freshwater infl ow from rivers. As such, an
augmented fi sh and prawn production of 11,878 t
(13,093 metric tonnes) was recorded during
2001–2002 in contrast with 1,269 t (1,399 mt)
during 1995–1996. This has resulted in an
increase in the estimated per capita income of the
fi sherfolk to Rs. 19,575 (about US$392) during
the year 2001–2002. However, the annual average
of only fi nfi sh landing from Chilika Lake is said
to be approx. 6,000 metric tonnes. Notably, about
25 % of the littoral zone of the wetland has been
acquired for shrimp culture. However, recently,
the Government of Odisha has banned the lease
of Chilika Lake for culture fi shery. Further, about
1,600 ha of the wetland has been reclaimed for
paddy cultivation.
Dolphins
Chilka is home to the only known population of
critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins
( Orcaella brevirostris ) in India, and it is the fl agship species of the lake. Chilka is also one of only
two lagoons in the world that are home to this
species. Studies showed 131 dolphins in 2006
and 138 dolphins in 2007, which consisted of 115
adults, 17 adolescents and six calves. Sixty adults
were spotted in the outer channel, 32 in the central sector and 23 in the southern sector. Further,
a small population of bottlenose dolphins are also
said to migrate into the lagoon from the sea.
Operation of fl oating gill nets and hook line gears
is the main cause of dolphin mortality. Further,
the Irrawaddy dolphins have a seemingly mutualistic relationship of cooperative fi shing with the
traditional fi shermen.
Avifauna
Chilika Lake supports one of the largest populations of migratory waterfowls in India. Chilika
Lake is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds, on the Indian subcontinent. About 160
species of waterfowls (97 species are intercontinental migrants) belonging to 26 families have
been recorded from Chilika Lake. Census
revealed two million birds in 1997–1998, nearly
840,000 birds in 2007 (out of which 198,000
were spotted in Nalabana Island), about 900,000
birds in January 2008 (of which 450,000 were
sighted in Nalabana) and so on. Removal of invasive species of freshwater aquatic plants, especially water hyacinth, due to restoration of
salinity, is, possibly, a contributing factor for the
recent increasing attraction of birds to the lake.
Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal,
Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia,
Siberia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kirghiz steppes
of Mongolia, Central and SE Asia, Ladakh and
other parts of the Himalayas come to Chilika
Lake by travelling up to about 12,000 km.
Survey revealed that 45 % of the birds are terrestrial in nature, 32 % are waterfowls, 23 % are
waders and 14 types of raptors (the white-bellied
sea eagle, pariah kite, brahminy kites, kestrel,
marsh harriers, peregrine falcon, etc.). Further,
many short-legged shorebirds are seen in a narrow band along the shifting shores of the lake and
islands. These include the plovers, the collared
pratincole, ruff, dunlin, snipes and sandpipers.
Larks, wagtails and lapwings are also found on
the mudfl ats. Feeding in deeper water are the
longer-legged avocets, stilts and godwits. In addition, the vegetated areas of the lake support
moorhens, coots and jacanas. Pond herons and
night herons can be seen along the shores with
kingfi shers and rollers. Little cormorants are seen
on perches around the lake. Compact fl ocks of
brahminy ducks, as well as shovellers, pintails,
gadwall, teals, pochards, geese and coots, are
also seen.
Nalabana Bird Sanctuary (In Chilika Lake)
Nalabana Island (Plate 20.77 ) lies at 2 m MSL,
between 19° 41′ 39″ N and 85° 18′ 24″ E, and is
the bird sanctuary and the core area of the Ramsar
designated wetland, Chilika Lake. Its time zone
is IST (UTC + 05:30), and its website is www.
wildlifeorissa.in/chilika.html . Nalabana means a
weed covered island in Oriya language. The
island gets completely submerged during the
rainy season and is exposed during winter.
Numerous birds fl ock in the island to feed on its
extensive mudfl ats. Large fl ocks of greater fl amingos from Iran and the Rann of Kutch in
Gujarat feed in the shallow waters of the lake.
Other long-legged waders seen around Nalabana
20 Wetlands of India
better intermixing of the tidal infl ux from the sea
and freshwater infl ow from rivers. As such, an
augmented fi sh and prawn production of 11,878 t
(13,093 metric tonnes) was recorded during
2001–2002 in contrast with 1,269 t (1,399 mt)
during 1995–1996. This has resulted in an
increase in the estimated per capita income of the
fi sherfolk to Rs. 19,575 (about US$392) during
the year 2001–2002. However, the annual average
of only fi nfi sh landing from Chilika Lake is said
to be approx. 6,000 metric tonnes. Notably, about
25 % of the littoral zone of the wetland has been
acquired for shrimp culture. However, recently,
the Government of Odisha has banned the lease
of Chilika Lake for culture fi shery. Further, about
1,600 ha of the wetland has been reclaimed for
paddy cultivation.
Dolphins
Chilka is home to the only known population of
critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins
( Orcaella brevirostris ) in India, and it is the fl agship species of the lake. Chilka is also one of only
two lagoons in the world that are home to this
species. Studies showed 131 dolphins in 2006
and 138 dolphins in 2007, which consisted of 115
adults, 17 adolescents and six calves. Sixty adults
were spotted in the outer channel, 32 in the central sector and 23 in the southern sector. Further,
a small population of bottlenose dolphins are also
said to migrate into the lagoon from the sea.
Operation of fl oating gill nets and hook line gears
is the main cause of dolphin mortality. Further,
the Irrawaddy dolphins have a seemingly mutualistic relationship of cooperative fi shing with the
traditional fi shermen.
Avifauna
Chilika Lake supports one of the largest populations of migratory waterfowls in India. Chilika
Lake is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds, on the Indian subcontinent. About 160
species of waterfowls (97 species are intercontinental migrants) belonging to 26 families have
been recorded from Chilika Lake. Census
revealed two million birds in 1997–1998, nearly
840,000 birds in 2007 (out of which 198,000
were spotted in Nalabana Island), about 900,000
birds in January 2008 (of which 450,000 were
sighted in Nalabana) and so on. Removal of invasive species of freshwater aquatic plants, especially water hyacinth, due to restoration of
salinity, is, possibly, a contributing factor for the
recent increasing attraction of birds to the lake.
Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal,
Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia,
Siberia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kirghiz steppes
of Mongolia, Central and SE Asia, Ladakh and
other parts of the Himalayas come to Chilika
Lake by travelling up to about 12,000 km.
Survey revealed that 45 % of the birds are terrestrial in nature, 32 % are waterfowls, 23 % are
waders and 14 types of raptors (the white-bellied
sea eagle, pariah kite, brahminy kites, kestrel,
marsh harriers, peregrine falcon, etc.). Further,
many short-legged shorebirds are seen in a narrow band along the shifting shores of the lake and
islands. These include the plovers, the collared
pratincole, ruff, dunlin, snipes and sandpipers.
Larks, wagtails and lapwings are also found on
the mudfl ats. Feeding in deeper water are the
longer-legged avocets, stilts and godwits. In addition, the vegetated areas of the lake support
moorhens, coots and jacanas. Pond herons and
night herons can be seen along the shores with
kingfi shers and rollers. Little cormorants are seen
on perches around the lake. Compact fl ocks of
brahminy ducks, as well as shovellers, pintails,
gadwall, teals, pochards, geese and coots, are
also seen.
Nalabana Bird Sanctuary (In Chilika Lake)
Nalabana Island (Plate 20.77 ) lies at 2 m MSL,
between 19° 41′ 39″ N and 85° 18′ 24″ E, and is
the bird sanctuary and the core area of the Ramsar
designated wetland, Chilika Lake. Its time zone
is IST (UTC + 05:30), and its website is www.
wildlifeorissa.in/chilika.html . Nalabana means a
weed covered island in Oriya language. The
island gets completely submerged during the
rainy season and is exposed during winter.
Numerous birds fl ock in the island to feed on its
extensive mudfl ats. Large fl ocks of greater fl amingos from Iran and the Rann of Kutch in
Gujarat feed in the shallow waters of the lake.
Other long-legged waders seen around Nalabana
20 Wetlands of India