CHITWAN: A total of 205 gharial crocodiles raised in Chitwan National Park have been released into the Rapti River in the current fiscal year, up from 133 released last fiscal year.
The Crocodile Breeding Centre, located in Kasara within the park, has been in operation since 1978 to conserve the endangered gharial species.
According to information officer Abinash Thapa Magar, a total of 2,280 crocodiles have so far been released into various rivers across Nepal. These include 1,525 in the Rapti River, 421 in the Narayani, 35 in the Kaligandaki, 105 in the Saptakoshi, and 41 in the Karnali. Additional releases have also been carried out in the Babai River (110), Chaudhar River (25), and West Rapti in Banke (10).
Currently, 598 crocodiles are being cared for at the Kasara breeding centre. The reintroduction program has been ongoing since 1981, with the Rapti River now hosting the highest number of crocodiles in Nepal.
Crocodile eggs are collected from the banks of the Rapti River and brought to the centre for hatching. However, conservation efforts face challenges, as many released crocodiles drift downstream into India, while others fall prey to poaching. Rising river pollution has also emerged as a significant threat to their survival.
Comment