NP - Gharial population down

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*Gharial Population Down *

 

CHANDNI HAMAL

http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details & news_id=6360

 

CHITWAN, June 15: The population of critically endangered gharials is fast

decreasing in Nepal due to a lack of efforts to save them, conservationists

say. The last census carried out in 2008 put the population of the

crocodile-like reptiles with long and narrow jaws at 81, which is less than

half the population of the species found during an earlier census, according

to Chitwan National Park (CNP).

 

The gharials are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife

Conservation Act. Conservationists say though options were sought to

conserve the species, none were successful.

 

One of the key reasons behind the drop in gharial population is damage in

their habitat owing to depleting water levels in bigger rivers where they

live.

 

Similarly, a decrease in the number of fish -- the food for the gharials --

in the rivers owing to excessive fishing has also led to a decline in their

number, according to CNP warden Narendra Babu Pradhan. He also said some

gharials may have migrated to Indian rivers in search of food, or to escape

pollution in the rivers here.

 

Downstream migration also takes place when gates of dams built on major

rivers along the Nepal-India border are lifted, according to gharial expert

Bed Bahadur Khadka.

 

Every year, several gharials are released in major rivers to increase their

population. This has been done since the establishment of the CNP in 1973.

So far, 708 gharials have been released in several rivers in the country.

 

There are currently over 500 gharials, including juveniles, in the breeding

center at Kasara in Chitwan. For breeding, there are two male gharials and

nine females.

 

 

--

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Bagdol, Patan, Nepal

Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland