Nine rare male gharials recorded in Chitwan National Park rivers
Summary
Nine rare male gharials have been recorded in the Rapti and Narayani rivers within Chitwan National Park, showing a slight increase in crocodile populations due to conservation efforts.
Key Points
- Nine rare male gharials were recorded in the Rapti and Narayani rivers flowing through Chitwan National Park.
- A direct census recorded 366 crocodiles this year compared to 352 last year, indicating an increase in the Rapti River population and a slight decline in the Narayani River.
- Seven male gharials were found in the Rapti River, while two were in the Narayani River.
- Crocodiles bred at the Crocodile Breeding Centre in Kasara are regularly released into the rivers, contributing to the population increase attributed to public awareness and community-based conservation initiatives.
