Paradip, March 1: The estuaries and the sea waters of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary have emerged as the state's most congenial habitat for six species of dolphins.

The first-ever headcount operation of these marine animals, conducted recently, has come out with sighting of 270 dolphins. Significantly, the census figure found more dolphins inhabiting in Gahirmatha under Bhitarkanika national park than the Chilika lake, an internationally acclaimed Ramsar wetland site. The Chilika houses 144 Irrawaddy dolphins - which is on much lower side in comparison to sightings made in Gahirmatha, said officer of the Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division Bimal Prasana Acharya.

"While 58 Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted, 123 Sousa Chinensis species were counted inhabiting in Gahirmatha and adjoining water bodies. Similarly, 50 Sousa Plumbera dolphins, 23 Bottlenose dolphins, 15 pan tropical spotted dolphins and one Finless porpoise were also found during the headcount exercise," he said.

A status survey of these marine animals is vital for the study of growth pattern of species living within the brackish water bodies and shallow sea waters of the Bhitarkanika national park, said a forest official.

As the sighting of dolphins has become a routine feature for wildlife personnel doing the turtle patrolling duty, the forest department had conducted census of these mammals on February 15.

Nine teams, consisting of 40 wildlife experts and state forest department officials, were formed to cover the habitation corridors and make headcount of the mammals. Each team had been equipped with binoculars, GPS set, rangefinder and data-recording sheets. The enumerators covered salt water creeks in outer wheelers, Chinchini river mouth, Barunei river mouth, Jatadhari river mouth, Devi river mouth, Dhamra, Kajalapatia, Nalitapatia, Khola, Kalibhanjadiha, Jamboo, Kharinasi and Hukitola brackish water bodies. Besides, the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary was brought under the purview of the surveyors, said Acharya.

Every year, the forest department conducts annual headcount of estuarine crocodiles, winter migrant avian species, monsoon migrant water birds. Count is also made of the number of Olive Ridley turtles engaged in annual mass nesting at Gahirmatha beach. The Gahirmatha marine sanctuary comes under the administrative jurisdiction of the national park. Besides, the headcount of mammals such as monkeys, hyenas, jackals and fishing cats were carried out last year. However, dolphins did not figure in the list of species for annual census drive earlier.