Where is this lake?
Chilika is largest coastal lagoon along the East coast of
India Located in the state of Odisha . The lagoon has a catchment area of 3500
sq.km. The water spread area varies from 1165 sq.km in the rainy season to 906
sq.km in the summer season. The ecosystem of Chilika comprises tidal ingress
from Bay of Bengal, which mixes freshwater brought by rivers like Mahanadi, Daya,
Bhargabi and other river along with large number of
rivulets.
What is its
significance?
It
is the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world. It is a ‘Paradise for
water birds’.
- The lagoon hosts over 225 bird species in the peak migratory season, with 97 species being intercontinental migrants.
- Over a million birds find their way to the Chilika lagoon every year. Birds from far off places like Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, Kirghiz steppes of Mangolia, central and south East-Asia, Ladak and Himalaya s migrate to this place.
- The water bird diversity is also important indicator of the health of a wet land.
- White bellied sea eagle is the flag ship species of Chilika.
- The lagoon is the habitat for largest congregation of water fowls in India.
How is it
unique in biodiversity?
Chilika is one of the
hotspots of biodiversity in India with unique assemblage of marine, brackish
and fresh water ecosystem. An extremely productive environment due to efficient
nutrient cycle. It shelters a number
of endangered, rare and endemic species
listed in the IUNC red list of threatened species.
v Migratory birds
v Irrawaddy dolphins
v Bottle nose dolphins
v Barkudia skink, a limbless lizard
It sustains more than 150000 fisher-folk living in 132 villages.Apart from the above, chilka lake is a important habitat for many flora and fauna.
Any Recognitions for
this wonderful place?
- On account of the unique value of this lagoon ecosystem, Chilika lagoon has been designed as a wetland of international importance under Ramsar convention, 1981.
- The Chilika development authority has been conferred the prestigious Ramsar wetland conservation award,2002 for its role in successful restoration work in Chilika lake.
- It has been also conferred Indira Gandhi paryavarana puraskar, 2002.
Any important species
in particular?
There are numerous islands in the
Chilika lagoon, which have a total area of 223 sq.km. They provide important
niche s for birds and other species.
Barkudia insularis
Barkudia insularis, is a limbless
lizard was found in loose earth near the roots of a Banyan tree of Badakuda
island of Chilika lagoon in 1917 and rediscovered in the year 2003. It is
endemic to Orissa.It is available in only two locations: Barkuda island in
Chilika lake, Nandankanan, Biological Park. Cuttack district. It included in
the red list category of IUCN (International Union for conservation of nature) as
critically endangered.
Irrawaddy dolphins
It is also known as snub
fin dolphin. It is listed as
‘vulnerable ‘on the IUCN red list of threatened species.
- A distinctive dolphin with a rounded head and no beak.
- It is a oceanic dolphin occurs in shallow, coastal waters of the indo-pacific and also occurs in three large river system-the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar, the Mekong in Cambodia, and the Mahakam in Borneo, Indonesia.
- The present count of these dolphins in Chilika lagoon is 121 individuals.The estimated Worldwide population of Irrawaddy dolphins is about less than 7500, out of which 6000 are in Bangladesh.
Any Threats?
- Habitat loss due to dams, deforestation, mining (sand and gravel).\
- Pollution from agro chemicals.
- Entanglement in gillnets
If visited what are
the tourist activities available?
- Nalabana bird sanctuary
- Bird watching, Dolphin watching
- Boating
- Fishing
- Wetlanf viewing
- Camping
Sindhu Dolphins or Indus dolphins are the most unique among all other because they are blind but can sense the world with heart,mind,soul,vibes and sound
ReplyDeleteThey are only colored dolphins in the world having peculiar gray, pink, white, yellow shades
ReplyDeleteIndus or Sindhu Dolphins are side swimmers,have average size almost equal to man and swim like a man,mammals, give birth to thier calf's,take care of calf with heart unlike many parents today
ReplyDeleteSindh dolphins are in hormonic with earths natural frequency 7.83 Hz which is same as frequency of Hindu King mantra Om. You can't excel meditation in mars with Om mantra as mars frequency is much higher than 7.83 Hz ,So is the life, Living beings with low resonating frequency can't survive in mars though it has 02 and water this will remain as bug in NASA research
ReplyDeleteIndus dolphins is a national mammal of Pakistan and they are fresh water species
ReplyDeleteThese are only dolphins which travel in pairs with soulmate
ReplyDeleteSindh Dolphins are threatened species mainly not due to fishing, pollutants, lost of habitat but with negative energy by Militants
ReplyDeleteStarting with Ganga dolphins then Indus dolphins next?
ReplyDeleteGuys don't dare to ask me speak about Saraswati dolphins that Will blow your mind
Uncovered points by k s valdiya committee report on mythological river
Then my revelations will jump to 100% correct.
Can't fake energy. Time to be rippen to trace back our buddies of Saraswati.
super
ReplyDelete