(IN) WWF employs new technology to save Gharials

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Watchful gadget: Biologgers to monitor ghariyals in the wild

TNN 28 October 2009,

06:32am IST

 

LUCKNOW: Ghariyals might be in for a new-age monitoring in the state

through a technique called biologging. In fact, it would entirely be a

new experience for the artificially reared reptilian breed. The state forest

department is planning to release ghariyals implanted with a camera and sensory

devices in the wild.

 

" But that will need a proper trial at the rehabilitation centre first, " said

Eva Sharma, conservator, endangered species division. The senior officials from

the forest department along with experts from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and

Tokyo University tested the biologging technique on a young ghariyal at the

rehabilitation centre at Kukrail in the state capital on Tuesday.

 

The young one will have to bear the devices for four hours after which they

might automatically detach. The data collected through the devices then be

studied. If the experiment shows positive results it will be replicated on

gharials to be released in the Hastinapur sanctuary of Meerut along the Ganga.

 

" Biologging is the use of electronic sensors, implanted or attached to

animals, to track and record their movements, behaviour, physical setting and

physiological state in the wild. " In the process, two devices will be attached

to a ghariyal. First one near its mouth which will help in recording its feed

and second one close to the tail which will have a camera and keep record of

it's movement, swims, speed, depth and condition of habitat.

 

" It will help in knowing so many things about an acquatic animal like

ghariyal which are otherwise difficult to know, " said BK Patnaik, chief

wildlife warden, UP. It is for the first time that the technique is being

used on a crocodilian species.

 

The biologgers will remain attached to a ghariyal for 48 hours (in the wild)

and then fall off on their own. The data collected in detached devices will

then be studied by experts. " It's success will go a long way in planning the

conservation plan for ghariyals " , said Parikshit Gautam, director,

freshwater and wetlands programme, WWF.

 

Every year in winters, artificially reared ghariyals are released in the

wild to propagate their population. The released ones are two years old and

about 1.20 metre in length.

 

After 111 gharials were killed in Chambal sanctuary between December 2007

and March 2008 ghariyal conservation has received some serious thought. The

biologgers, costing 50,000 US dollars each, will come up with as much data

as possible on ghariyals.