In News:

On World Crocodile Day (June 17, 2025), Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh marked the 50th anniversary of India’s pioneering Gharial Conservation Programme, commemorating five decades of sustained efforts to protect the endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) along the Chambal River.

About the Gharial Conservation Programme

• Launched in: 1975
• Initiated by: Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh and Society for Conservation of Nature (SCON)
• Supported by: UNDP, FAO, and Government of India
• Location: Primarily focused on Chambal River in Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh
• Breeding Facility: Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre, Lucknow

Why Gharial Conservation Matters

• Species: Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) — endemic, freshwater crocodilian
• Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
• Habitat: Prefers deep, fast-flowing rivers with sandy banks and minimal human interference
• Threats: Habitat destruction, sand mining, illegal fishing, entanglement in nets, and declining fish stocks

Programme Objectives

• Protect wild gharial populations in natural river habitats.
• Enhance population through captive breeding and release.
• Study habitat biology and gharial behaviour to inform scientific conservation.
• Promote coexistence between gharials and local fishing communities.
• Create awareness and engage local populations in conservation.

Key Features of the Programme

• Egg Collection: Gharial eggs are safely collected from natural nests on riverbanks.
• Artificial Incubation: Maintained under controlled temperature and humidity to improve hatching success.
• Captive Rearing: Hatchlings are reared for 3–5 years at Kukrail Centre until they are strong enough for survival in the wild.
• Release Strategy: Tagged juveniles are released in protected stretches of the Chambal River.
• Community Involvement: Local fishermen and villagers are involved in conservation-linked livelihoods to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Impact and Legacy (1975–2025)

• One of India’s earliest species-specific conservation programmes.
• Created a successful model of “rear-and-release” conservation.
• Helped stabilize the gharial population in Chambal, now one of the last strongholds for the species.
• Promoted community-based conservation and scientific habitat management.