KATHMANDU: The Chitwan National Park recently conducted a survey and monitoring, identifying a total of 352 gharial crocodiles in the Rapti and Narayani rivers.
Among these, 206 were found in the Rapti River and 146 in the Narayani River.
According to the park’s Information Officer, Abinash Thapa Magar, the survey was conducted over 14 days starting on December 27, 2024, involving nine park employees and local fisherfolk.
Compared to the previous year, the population of gharials has increased in both rivers.
The increase in numbers is attributed to the release of 41 gharials into the Rapti River before the survey. The park plans to release an additional 40 gharials into natural habitats in the current fiscal year.
To date, 2,018 gharials have been released into various rivers across the country, while 739 gharials are being raised in the park’s breeding center.
Gharial crocodiles are critically endangered reptiles. In the 1940s, the global population of gharials was approximately 10,000, which dropped to just 2 percent by the 1970s. Currently, they are only found in Nepal and India.
Human activities along the rivers, such as sand and gravel extraction, pollution, and fishing, have damaged the natural habitats of gharials.
Additionally, floods often wash away the reptiles, causing further challenges to their conservation, according to Thapa Magar.
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