Reptiles

Gharial: The Critically Endangered Fish-Eating Crocodilian

The gharial is one of the world's most critically endangered crocodilians, reduced to around 800-900 individuals in Indian and Nepali rivers.

Key Facts

Distinguished by their extremely long, thin snout adapted for catching fish
Males develop a bulbous nasal appendage called a ghara
Once ranged across South Asian river systems; now restricted to a few rivers
Drowning in fishing nets is the primary mortality cause for adults
Hatchlings face high predation; nest flooding from dam releases also kills eggs

Welfare Considerations

Gharials caught in fishing nets experience prolonged drowning — a distressing death for an air-breathing reptile. Habitat degradation means surviving individuals face food scarcity and reduced reproductive success. River pollution and sand mining destroy nesting beaches.

What You Can Do

Support Gharial Conservation Alliance nesting beach protection
Advocate against riverbed sand mining in gharial nesting areas
Donate to WWF-India and WWF-Nepal gharial monitoring programs
Promote tourism policies that fund river conservation in India and Nepal