Paradip, Feb. 14: Rough sea and windy weather conditions have temporarily stalled the annual headcount operation of dolphins at the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Bhitarkanika National Park.

Unstable tidal waves have made it a risky proposition to undertake voyage for the headcount. Around 40 wildlife experts who were assigned the task of carrying out the census had been patiently waiting for the last 48 hours for the sea to calm down.

"The census programme has been suspended because the sea is turbulent," said divisional officer of Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

"Despite the rough sea, the enumerators had ventured into the sea for about one nautical mile. But they were forced to retreat since it was not possible to go further because of the surging waves. During the course of their voyage, the enumerators failed to sight a single dolphin," said Acharya.

The census work will be taken up once the weather improves, Acharya added.

The first ever headcount operation of dolphins was conducted last year and 270 dolphins were sighted. Significantly, the census figure found more dolphins inhabiting in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary than even the Chilika lake. Since the marine sanctuary is largely free from human interference, dolphins might be finding it to be a better habitat.

"A status survey of the marine mammals is vital for study of the growth pattern of the species living in the brackish water bodies and shallow sea waters of the Bhitarkanika National Park, which is a Ramsar international wetland site," said a forest official.

The forest department conducts annual census of estuarine crocodiles, migrant avian species and olive ridley turtles, which are engaged in annual mass nesting at the Gahirmatha beach that comes under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bhitarkanika National Park.