Berhampur, Jan. 11: The forest department has spotted a large number of dolphins along the 54km Ganjam coastline during a preliminary survey.

"We expect to find many dolphins during the main census on January 20," said divisional forest officer, Berhampur, Asish Kumar Behera. He also said it was likely that the census would find different kinds of dolphin species.

"The second yearly census will take place after one year," he said.

About 35 employees ventured up to 15km into the sea in four boats during the survey which had lasted for three hours from 7am to 10am yesterday.

The Ganjam coast, famous for the mass nesting of olive ridley turtles, is also a potential habitat for dolphins.

"Twenty-four dolphins of two species had been sighted by wildlife personnel during their first-ever census of the mammal in 2015. While 22 bottlenose dolphins were sighted on the coast from Boxipalli to Markandi, two humpback dolphins were spotted near the Bahuda river mouth near Pati Sonepur in the district. We aborted the dolphin census in Ganjam coast due to bad weather," Behera said.

The 54km coastal stretch from Prayagi to Pati Sonepur would be divided into four segments and each segment of a stretch of 13 to 14km would be equipped with a boat and seven to eight personnel.