Chilika Fresh Opens Two More Outlets

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22: Chilika Fresh will open two more outlets at Sahid Nagar and Nayapalli as part of its expansion plan after the kiosk at Siripur market became a hit with the customers.

While the outlet of the Odisha State Fisheries Co-operative Federation (Fishfed) at Sahid Nagar will be opened near the veterinary polyclinic on the Maharshi College Road connecting Janpath and Cuttack Road, the one at Nayapalli will be set up near the directorate of horticulture. Construction is under way in full swing and the outlets will be ready within three to four months.

Following the roaring success of the first outlet near Odisha University of Agriculture Technology, the state government decided to add two more kiosks to supply fresh fish and crabs from Chilika and its vicinity to the customers.

Fishfed managing director Mohanty said: "The federation has roped in several self-help groups (SHGs) for the supply of fresh fish and crabs from Chilika and its nearby pockets to the city."

"We are going to invest around Rs 30 lakh for each outlet in which there will be a concrete base and a poly-urethane foam-based insulated super structure to house the outlet. The design and format is already being used by Udyan Fresh outlets and our first Chilika Fresh outlet in Siripur," Upbeat about the new kiosks, Saheed Nagar resident Nagen Behari Panda said: "We are anxiously waiting for a Chilika Fresh outlet to open in our area as soon as possible."

The first kiosk was inaugurated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on September 26 last year. On the inaugural day, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy announced that the Fishfed was planning to open five more outlets by the New Year. However, the non-availability of land has forced the fisheries and animal resources development department to go slow. Earlier, the plan was to include Saheed Nagar, Dumduma, Laxmisagar, Baramunda and Old Town.

Devotees Queue Up Outside the Lingaraj Temple On The Occasion Of Mahashivratri

Over four lakh worshippers gathered near the shrine to see the auspicious lamp (mahadeep) being taken to the top of the temple.

People started queuing up in front of the temple from midnight and waited till the gates were opened at 4am.

The temple gates were opened in the morning for sahanmela darshan, which continued till 11am.

The long hours of wait did not deter the spirit of worshippers. Most of the devotees observe fast and perform puja throughout the night during this festival.

The Lingaraj temple administration had made plans to carry out the rituals on time, so that the devotees would not face any problem. Everything has been conducted in a smooth way and we expect to light the mahadeep at 10pm.

Expecting a huge turnout, the temple administration and police had barricaded the area to streamline the movement of the crowd. We have taken care of everything. Managing the crowd properly is our priority, and we are doing our best to ensure their safety. Besides, closed-circuit television cameras have been installed to keep a watch on the movement of the crowd in and around the temple.

Other Shiv temples in the state such as Dhabaleswar in Athgarh, Akhandalmani at Aradi in Bhadrak, Sriloknath in Puri, Mukteswar in Ganjam, Gupteswar in Koraput and Kapileswar in Dhenkanal also saw a huge turnout. The local administrations took every step for smooth conduct of the rituals at the temples.

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First Dolphin Census Spots Six Species

BHUBANESWAR: The first ever dolphin census carried out by the Wildlife Wing of Odisha along the coast has sprung interesting results with surveying teams sighting several species of the cetaceans during the day-long enumeration on Sunday.

The dolphin census was carried out in coastal forest divisions including Balasore, Bhadrak, Bhitarkanika, Puri, Chilika and Berhampur.

In Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and off the coast, where such an exercise was carried out for the first time, at least six species of dolphins were sighted.

Earlier, Chilika was the only coastal eco-system where dolphin census was carried out on an annual basis. However, earlier last month, the Wildlife Wing decided to make an effort to identify pockets of dolphin habitats not only in the coastal eco-systems but also along the shoreline.

Bhitarkanika, a habitat known for estuarine crocodiles, birds and Olive Ridley turtles, is reported to have six species much to the delight of naturalists. Those comprised Bottlenose, two species of Humpback, Pan Tropical Spotted, Irrawaddy as well as Finless Porpoises.

At least nine teams comprising 31 enumerators were pressed for the census work in the sanctuary. While five teams conducted the census in coastal regions, four were pressed in the creeks. In Mahakalpada zone, there was zero sighting of the cetaceans.

Chilika, the home of Irrawaddy dolphins, saw the entire lagoon covered for the census for the first time. The Chilika Wildlife Division pressed 18 teams comprising 90 members across the lagoon for the census.

Official sources said concentrated efforts were made to map the dolphin habitats in Chilika and Bhitarkanika while in other divisions, it is a start so that census work can be strengthened in the years to come. Line transect direct sighting method was used for the census.

The Wildlife Wing will compile all the data for analysis. A composite census report for the six divisions would be brought out in a day or two. Twelve different species of dolphins are reported from Odisha coast.

Twenty arrested for illegal fishing in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary

KENDRAPARA, Odisha: Stepping up their drive to protect turtles' mass nesting, the forest personnel today took into custody 20 fishermen in a mid-sea interception for unlawful fishing along Gahirmatha marine sanctuary  in Odisha's Kendrapara district. 

The trawls used by intruders for fishing along the prohibited breeding zones of the endangered marine animals were seized by the patrolling unit engaged by the forest department for conservation of olive ridley sea turtles.

The arrested fishermen were native of Kharinasi village, a fishing hub in the district, they said adding, the vessels had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors. 

They were later forwarded to jail custody under provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982.

Sea patrolling has been stepped up within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary water territory in view of the annual mass nesting season of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. 

It may be noted that Odisha government has clamped a ban on trawl fishing along the 20 km stretch of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from November 1 in view of the ensuing mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley marine turtles. The imposition of prohibitory order was in accordance with sections 2,3,4 of the Orissa Maine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA).

Rise in mortality rate of mating turtles along the coastal water surface led to the clamping of prohibitory orders as the gill nets lead to deaths for breeding turtles. 

Once upon a time tigers roared in Bhitarkanika

KENDRAPADA/BHUBANESWAR: Many years ago, tigers' roars would often rip apart the unnerving silence of Bhitarkanika. If one was lucky, one could catch a fleeting glimpse of a big cat's black and gold flashing against the forest's verdant green.

The autobiography of Jonn Beames, who was the commissioner of Odisha in 1873, clearly suggests the presence of tigers in the country's second largest mangrove forest in Kendrapada district.

If one doubts the Britisher's account, a tiger trap, found from the palace of Kanika royal family and kept on display at the interpenetration center in Dangamal within Bhitarkanika National Park, can be regarded as a clinching evidence of the big cat's preence at the Ramsar site.

The tiger trap proves that the mangrove forest was an abode of tigers and leopards during the Raj era. However, more research needs to be done to establish the exact period when tigers lived here,

Biswajit Mohanty, a wildlife campaigner, says tigers are believed to have stayed in the area till early part of 20th century. "The fear of tigers would keep villagers away from the interiors of the forest till as late as the 1960s, long after a big cat was last sighted. People would never venture out in the dark and tell stories about tigers told to them by their forefathers," he adds.

While the Sunderbans, the world's largest mangrove forest is still home to a large number of big cats, Bhitarkanika seems to have lost its big cat population owing to its smaller expanse and increased port activities.

The existence of a century-old hunting tower in the core areas of Bhitarkanika testifies the fact that the Rajas of Rajkanika were passionate about hunting and presence of a strong prey base. Rajendra Narayan Bhanjadeo, the king of Rajkanika from 1924 to 1948, was a famous hunter. The history of Rajkanika is replete with accounts of his hunting expeditions.

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Winged Visitors throng Bhitarkanika National Park Of Odisha

KENDRAPARA: With 66 per cent rise in the number of winter migratory birds, Bhitarkanika National Park has re-established its status as one of the prominent avian habitats in Odisha. 

As per the latest census report released by the forest department, 1,13,226 feathered species from trans-Himalayan region flew to Bhitarkanika wetland sites in Kendrapara district for their winter sojourn this year. 

The census findings have found a substantial 66 per cent rise in the number of winged guests than the preceding year. While 68,514 winter migrant birds had made their way to the national park in 2013, the latest census put the number of winged guests at 1, 13,226. 

The enumerators spotted two rare groups of birds of central Asian origin from wetland spots of the park. These species were sighted for the first time in Bhitarkanika. 

These winged species come under rare and threatened category. Unable to cope with extreme cold in their original habitat, the feathered species preferred these congenial wetland spots.

The annual winter sojourn of birds in large numbers has re-established the marshy wetlands of Bhitarkanika as one of Odisha's prominent bird habitats. 

Harsh cold and snow fall in trans-Himalayan region has resulted in exodus of large number of migrant species to Bhitarkanika. This apart, lack of human interference, congenial environs and rich food reserve here proved ideal for the avian visitors. The enumerators also found that these species were fatigued after their long flight.

There is ample food security for the birds as the place criss-crossed by innumerable water inlets and nullahs. Lack of human interference, ideal climatic condition, cool breeze and the river system here all have emerged to the liking of these delicate chirpy winged species

Enumerators have also spotted hordes of Back-headed Godwit, Greater Crested Tern, common Shell duck and blue tailed Godwits, which come under rare and threatened category. The prominent species who have also made Bhitarkanika their winter home are Brahmin Duck, Bar-headed Geesse, Godwin, Pintail, painted stork, seagauls, commonteal and tawny eagle. 

Other prominent winged visitors to Bhitarkanika this time are Indian Skimmers, Grey Pelicans and White-backed Vultures, Lesser Adjutant, Greater spotted Eagles. All of these species are conferred endangered status under International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN)'s Red Book Data containing the list of highly threatened animals worldwide.

More Birds Visit Chilika Lake

BERHAMPUR (Odisha): The number of feathered guests to the famous Chilika Lake in Odisha, the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country, increased this winter.

Around 7.62 lakh birds of 172 species visited the blue lagoon this year. It was found during the annual bird count, conducted at 1,100 sq km vast lake yesterday.

Last winter around 7.19 lakh birds of 158 species had visited the lake. Similarly, in 2013 and 2012, around 8.77 lakh of 180 species and 8.83 lakh birds of 167 species respectively had visited the lake.

There is no new species of bird sighted in the vast lake during the census. Around 80 persons, including the ornithologists from BNHS, Mumbai, officials of wildlife organizations, several ornithologists and wildlife activists took part in the bird count in the lake held from 6 AM to 11 AM.

While 7, 61,940 winged guests of 172 different species were counted in the entire lake, highest number of 3, 90,697 were sighted in Nalabana bird sanctuary area. Last winter, Nalabana Island had hosted around 4.15 lakh birds.

Increase in number of migratory birds in the lake is attributed to the safety measures taken by wildlife authorities and improvement of the habitat in the lake. The 15.59-sq km area Nalabana Island was declared a as bird sanctuary as more number of birds congregated in the area.

Winged guests from far off places including Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, central and South East Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas were descended in the lake in every winter for feeding and roosting. They start their homeward journey with the onset of summer.