The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the world's most critically endangered reptiles, with fewer than 1,000 adults remaining in Indian and Nepali rivers, facing habitat loss and fishery conflicts.
Wild gharial welfare is inseparable from conservation status — with so few individuals remaining, the welfare of each animal has population-level significance. Gharials entangled in fishing nets suffer drowning — they are air-breathing reptiles. Sand-mining destroys nesting habitat, causing females to fail nesting attempts or nest in suboptimal locations where eggs are at risk of flooding. Released captive-bred juveniles face intense predation and often-poor post-release survival, raising questions about captive breeding program welfare and efficacy. Protecting river habitats, regulating fishing gear to minimise bycatch, and controlling sand-mining are the most impactful interventions for both conservation and individual welfare.