UPFD and TSA released 65 Gharial in Ghaghra

Today brought us a step closer to saving Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus),critically endangered fish- eating crocodiles, when Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) released 65 head-started juveniles in Ghaghra River near Ghaghraghat in Bahraich district. Ghaghra is a fast flowing snow-fed river of North India and a major tributary of the Ganges.

Endangered Project of UPFD and TSA-India are working towards reintroducing and establishing a satellite population of this crocodile species on Ghaghra flowing through Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). Released cohort was hatched and reared at Kukrail Gharial and Turtle Centre for three years and attained a length of 1+ meters. The animals were divided into two batches and half of them were "soft" released in a creek of the river. Soft-release can be defined as a gradual return of captive raised animals to the wild. Rest of the lot (33) was released in mainstream near the creek.

Both groups were attached with color coded cattle tags, which will help us to determine their dispersal and survival in the future and compare the results between these groups. TSA has started the monitoring of the released animals. Moreover a team is working with local key fishing communities for the last one month to educate them about the Gharials' harmlessness to fishers and to encourage fishermen to report when gharial accidentally get entangled in fishing nets or spotted otherwise. We initiated a "buy-back" program, where fishermen are incentivized for reporting/or safely handing over an animal to the monitoring team. Through this initiative we want to discourage any conflict and community monitoring system of supplemented populations in this unprotected but potential river system.

It is to be noted that less than 500 adult Gharial are struggling to survive in the wild. The biggest population of the Gharial is found on the Chambal River with satellite populations on Geruwa, Ramganga and Son Rivers. The release was carried out under the guidance of Dr Rupak De (PCCF, Wildlife) and onsite supervision of Mr Sanjay Srivastava (CF, Endangered Project). The project team included Dr Shailendra Singh, Mr Bhasker Dixit, Dr Disha Sharma, Ms Chaitra Baliga, Ms Arunima Singh, Mr. Mahendra Pratap Singh. Mr. T Rangaruju (DFO, Gonda) Mr. V.B Srivastava (Widllife Warden) Mr. M.P Singh (Range Officer, Kukrail), Mr. Abu Arshad (Range Officer, Sandi), T.S. Mishra (Range Officer, Kaiserganj) Mr. Suresh Pal Singh, Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry, Mr Santram who assisted in carrying out the entire operation. TSA thank Collete HAdams and Disney Wordwide Conservation Fund to support this project