The Department of Punjab Forest and Wildlife Preservation, in collaboration with the World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India), recently reintroduced 24 gharials into the Beas Conservation Reserve. This gharial reintroduction programme is a significant step by the Punjab government aiming to preserve and increase the population of the critically endangered species.
About Gharials
Gharials, also known as gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian recognised by their long, thin snouts. They are part of the diverse reptile group which includes crocodiles, alligators, and caimans. India is home to three crocodilian species: the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) listed as Critically Endangered on IUCN Red List, Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) listed as Vulnerable, and Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), categorised as Least Concern. These three crocodilians are also included in Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, with an exception for Saltwater Crocodile populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea which are under Appendix II of CITES.
Gharial Habitats
Gharials primarily inhabit the fresh waters of northern India. Their primary habitat is the Chambal river, a tributary of Yamuna, while secondary habitats include Ghagra, Gandak river, Girwa river (Uttar Pradesh), the Ramganga river (Uttarakhand) and the Sone river (Bihar). Gharial populations serve as excellent indicators of clean river water due to their preference for pristine environments.
Conservation Efforts and Threats
To protect gharials, breeding centres have been established in several locations, including the Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and the National Chambal Sanctuary (Gharial Eco Park, Madhya Pradesh). Despite these efforts, gharials face numerous threats such as increased river pollution, dam construction, large-scale fishing operations, floods, illegal sand mining, and poaching.
Beas Conservation Reserve
The Beas Conservation Reserve is a 185-kilometre stretch of the Beas River located primarily in north-west Punjab. It hosts the only known population in India of the endangered Indus River Dolphin. In 2017, a programme was initiated to reintroduce the critically endangered gharial, with 47 individuals released into the river, marking their return after a three-decade absence.
Beas River
The Beas River originates near the Rohtang Pass at an altitude of 4,062 m above sea level, on the southern end of the Pir Panjal Range, close to the source of the Ravi. This tributary of the Indus river meets the Satluj river at Harike in Punjab. Despite its small size at only 460 km long, the Beas River lies entirely within Indian territory and forms a gorge at Kati and Largi in the Dhauladhar range. It has several tributaries including the Bain, Banganga, Luni, Uhal, along with Banner, Chakki, Gaj, Harla, Mamuni, Parvati, Patlikuhlal, Sainj, Suketi, and Tirthan.
