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Conservation |
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| Photo : Suresh
Chaudhari |
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| Gharials on the Brink of
Extinction |
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The Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one
of the most endangered crocodilians in the
world, with as few as 200 breeding adults left
in the wild. Gharials were once found in the
river systems of Pakistan, northern India,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal. Now gharials are extinct everywhere except a few
small areas of India and Nepal.
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Historically, gharials were hunted for their skins and
for use in medicines. Now destruction of their habitat
and illegal fishing have become the greatest threats to
gharials. Though much of the remaining gharial
habitat is within protected sanctuaries, without
adequate enforcement illegal fishing and resource
extraction continue. As gharials are killed in
fishing nets, suitable habitats are destroyed, and their
prey base dwindles, their populations are declining
rapidly and becoming increasingly fragmented. For more on threats
to gharials see the Threats section.
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Despite a large-scale restocking program for thirty
years, resulting in over 5,000 young gharials being
released into India’s river systems, only around 200
breeding adults still survive. The exact reasons for
this low survival rate are unknown, but it is most
likely due to the continuing threats to gharials. No
matter how many gharials are released in the wild, if
their habitat continues to be destroyed, and they
continue to be killed, this species will not be able to
survive.
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One crucial factor in the failure of past conservation
efforts was the lack of involvement of local people.
When protected areas were declared, local people lost
access to natural resources they had enjoyed for
generations, causing resentment and antipathy towards
the animals and conservation efforts. Future success
will depend on working with local communities to find
mutually beneficial strategies, such as alternative
livelihoods for fishermen, to conserve the riverine
habitat upon which both the gharials and humans depend.
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The focus of current conservation efforts is now on
habitat protection, enforcement of protection status,
community involvement, education and awareness, and
gharial/human conflict mitigation |
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