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Gharial Hatchlings Emerge: A Critically Endangered Success Story
27 May
Summary
- Over 500 to 600 gharial eggs were laid in nests in early April.
- Hatchlings started emerging in the last week of May, with more expected.
- A new gharial rearing center is being developed for ₹27.25 lakh.
Special monitoring has been initiated for the safety of newly emerged gharial hatchlings at the sanctuary near Ranthambore National Park. Teams are conducting regular patrols and inspecting nesting sites to ensure protection measures are in place. The emergence of a large number of hatchlings at Palighat this season is an encouraging sign for this critically endangered species.
Gharials laid between 500 to 600 eggs in 22-25 nests along sandy banks in early April. The incubation period is approximately two months, and hatchlings began emerging in the last week of May, with more expected in the coming days. Protective fencing has been installed around nesting zones to prevent attacks by wild animals, and human activity has been restricted.
A state-of-the-art gharial rearing centre is also being developed at Palighat for ₹27.25 lakh to further strengthen conservation efforts. The number of adult gharials at the Chambal sanctuary currently exceeds 130. This tri-state sanctuary, co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, is a vital habitat for various species.
