Gharials Under Grave Threat
WWF calls for immediate remedial measures
Between December 8 and December 22, 2007, approximately 50 gharials, of the remaining 1300 in India, have been found dead in the National Chambal Sanctuary. Established in 1978, the sanctuary is spread across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and protects a 400 km stretch of the Chambal River. The mortalities have been confined to a 25 km stretch of the river roughly extending from the Etawah-Gwalior Road Bridge to the construction site of another road bridge at Sahson, near the tehsil town of Chakarnagar.
No sign of external injuries has ruled out the possibility of accidental death of these animals in the nets of fish poachers in the sanctuary. Reports from veterinary doctors have revealed irregularities in the gastro-intestinal tract. A more precise toxicological and pathological examination of the organs of the dead gharials by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, and ITRC, Lucknow, have found lead concentrations between 0.7-1.4 ppm. The tissues from liver and kidneys have shown extensive degenerative changes with consistent presence of various stages of protozoan parasite.
About Gharials
The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the most endangered freshwater crocodile species – it is cited as critically endangered by IUCN, and is listed as a Schedule I species in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. About 1,300 animals are estimated to be left in the wild, and of that number only about 200 are breeding adults. Gharials are distinguished by their very long and narrow snouts (an adult male has a large bulb on top of the tip of its snout from which the animal gets its local name). They spend most of their time submerged in water, feeding on fish and are generally harmless to humans. Females lay their eggs on sandy riverbanks.
The species is already extinct in its former range of Pakistan, Bhutan, and Myanmar, and most likely also in Bangladesh. Other than a few recorded nests in Nepal, the largest remaining populations are found in just four locations in India along the Son (2 nests), Katerniaghat, Girwa (30 nests), and Chambal (68 nests) rivers.
Although the Chambal River - a tributary of the Yamuna River in northern India - is ranked as one of India’s cleanest rivers, its gharial population - estimated at 700 - is facing a decline. This is a result of habitat destruction, river pollution, poaching, unregulated fishing, and extensive sand mining, which is responsible for the loss of gharial nesting sites.
WWF-India’s Conservation Actions
WWF-India is extremely concerned about the recently reported mortalities. With the already existing threats and stresses due to numerous causes like sand-mining and over-fishing, and this news only makes the status of the species grimmer.
Mr. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India, said, “This is extremely disturbing news. We are alarmed at this development and hope that immediate remedial measures are initiated to prevent further loss”. He added, “WWF-India has been active partner of the Gharial Conservation Alliance (GCA) and has significantly supported the conservation activities to save the Monarch of the Indian rivers in the past and will do as much as possible to avert this national crisis. We welcome government of Madhya Pradesh’s move to call the global conservation community for their support.”
WWF-India, through its Freshwater and Wetlands programme, is closely monitoring this developing situation. Mr. Dhruvjyoti Basu, coordinator with WWF, is currently working actively with the three state governments and assisting them in understanding the situation better.
Dr. Parikshit Gautam, Director of Freshwater and Wetlands Programme of WWF-India, speaking on the issue said, “We urge the state governments, central government and concerned individuals to come together to work to avert this crisis on an urgent basis. The government must take on-the-ground actions by collaborating with national and international organizations and take all possible measures to save the remaining Gharials.”
Speaking about WWF-India’s Riverwatch programme, Dr. Gautam said, “We are also conducting field surveys in the distribution range of Gharials to find out the actual population status and understand the threats to the species and their habitats”.
For more information and for quotes, please contact:
Dr. Parikshit Gautam, Director, Freshwater and Wetlands Programme, WWF-India
Tel: +91-11-4150 4820, +91- 9818928248; E-mail: pgautam@wwfindia.net
Mr. Dhruvjyoti Basu, Gharial Conservation Coordinator Riverwatch, WWF
Tel: +91- 9889476148, E-mail: dhrubasu@rediffmail.com
Anshuman Atroley, Communications Manager, WWF-India
Tel: +91-11-4150 4797, +91-98101 69262; E-mail: aatroley@wwfindia.net
