Recently, as many as 125 critically endangered gharial hatchlings were released into the river Gankak near Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve of Bagaha in the West Champaran district of Bihar.

The conservation task was possible due to the combined efforts of the Bihar Environment and Forest Department, the Wildlife Trust of India, and the Los Angeles Zoo. Around nine gharials were found earlier this year on the banks of river Gandak.

Eight hatcheries were found on the Bihar side of Gandak River and one was spotted in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district. Farmers, fishermen, and local people came forward for the preservation of alligators' eggs. Altogether, 125 gharial hatchlings were born. A variety of sorts were there. These alligator hatchlings were released into the River Gandak safely.

The Project Head for the Wildlife Trust of India remarked, 'Villagers gave their overwhelming support to us in protecting the eggs from floods and erosion of embankments and also wild animals.

Earlier, in a research only a dozen were found in Gandak River but now the number has jumped to 500. After the Chambal River, they are present the highest in the Gandak River. Gandak River was identified as a nesting habitat of critically endangered gharials for the first time in 2016. It has a good number of gharial populations with breeding records. Earlier, this year some 148 gharials were released in the Gandak.

The number of species in the river has gone up manifold in recent years due to the joint efforts of the Wildlife Trust of India and the Environment Department.

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Reference:

• newsindianexpress.com
• etvbharat.com