Over 2,300 Gharial crocodiles released in various rivers in 45 years

Conservation efforts in Nepal have seen a significant number of gharial crocodiles released into various rivers over the past 45 years, though wild populations remain critically low.

The Gharial Crocodile Breeding Centre in Chitwan National Park has successfully released a total of 2,315 gharial crocodiles since its establishment. The Rapti River has received the largest share, with 1,560 crocodiles released into its waters. In the current fiscal year, 225 crocodiles, including 14 males and 211 females, were released into rivers such as the Rapti, Narayani, Saptakoshi, and Karnali.

Despite these extensive breeding and release programs, the wild population of gharials has not seen a substantial increase. Last year, only 366 individuals were counted in the Rapti and Narayani rivers combined. The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is classified as an endangered species, facing severe threats that have drastically reduced its global numbers.

Historically, the gharial population plummeted from an estimated 10,000 in the 1940s to just two percent of that by 1970. This alarming decline led to the establishment of the breeding center in 1975 when fewer than 100 gharials remained in Nepal. Current challenges to their survival include human activities, river pollution, and the extraction of river resources, all of which degrade their natural habitat.

The breeding center continues its vital work, currently housing 500 crocodiles and actively working on breeding programs to ensure the species' future. The ongoing releases represent a crucial part of the strategy to bolster wild populations against the persistent threats they face.