WWF reintroduces Gharials in India

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o-River-Ganges

WWF-India

Reintroduces 131 Gharials into River Ganges 26 Feb 2009

January 29th and February 12th can be marked on WWF-India’s calendar as

historical. In a task that was no shorter than being termed as herculean,

WWF-India along with the UP State Forest Department reintroduced the Gharial

into River Ganga at the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary (HWLS), U.P.

 

The status of the crocodilian species Gharial, *Gavialis gangeticus* has

recently been revised by the IUCN to Critically Endangered. The surviving

population is spread in less than half a dozen habitats eg-Ken, Son,

Mahanadi, Chambal, Girwa and Ramganga. Estimates indicate that 1400

individuals survive in the wild. In order to address the conservation needs

of this species, it is necessary to locate viable alternative habitats which

supplement the extremely few habitats where the species currently occur.

The target reintroduction area was very well suited for the release. The

site was selected after a survey conducted by the state forest department

officials and WWF-India. The area has been inhabited by wild Gharials in

fairly recent times. A female Gharial (3.63 m) inhabited this area as late

as 1994. Another Gharial was rescued here in 2006-07 and released into the

Ganges at a spot further up stream near Bijnor. Also, easily recognizable

features of Gharial habitat like perennial stream with deep pools,

undisturbed mid-river sand bars, high and steep sand banks for nesting, and

multi-stream braided channels with stagnant eddy counter-currents occur in

this stretch of the river. An awareness drive amongst the local communities

was also conducted along the river bank to ensure community participation

prior to reintroduction of these species into the Ganga.

 

Immediately below the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ganges River and

its environs downstream to the Ganga Irrigation Barrage at Narora have been

declared as a Ramsar Site with its own conservation implications. The area

is currently the focus of a dolphin conservation programme of WWF-India

which will definitely benefit Gharial conservation, monitoring and

protection.

 

In Total 131 Gharials were released in a phased manner. These gharials were

breed at the Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre at Lucknow and belonged

to the 2005-2006 batch. They were in the age group of 2-3.8 years In the

first phase 60 Gharials were released in which there were 18 males and 42

females. They measured approximately 1.20-1.68 m in length and weighed

approximately 7-12 kg.

 

In the second phase 71 Gharials were released of which there were 19 males

and 52 females. These weighed 7-16 kg and measured approximately 1.20-1.80 m

in length. Intensive post-release monitoring is underway and it has been

observed that these individuals have negotiated 10 kilometer downstream and

2.5 km upstream of the release site. These release programmes will be

sustained for a number of years until a resident breeding population of

Gharial is established at a favourable location in the river.

 

The objectives of the reintroduction will be achieved through people

participation and regular monitoring of sections of the Ganga River and

studying the response of the released Gharial in terms of ability to

permanently adapt to the environment. Rescue operations for Gharial

individuals will also be done, which could drift downstream of protected

areas. The local communities have expressed support and solidarity for

ensuring the return of the Gharial in this area. With the success of this

project it is hoped that these species sees resurgence.

 

*For more information, please contact:*

Dr. Parikshit Gautam, Freshwater & Wetlands,

WW- India,

E-mail:

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103,97,117,116,97,109,64,119,119,102,105,110,100,105,97,46,110,101,116)+'?'>

T: +91 11 41504820