Gavial count goes up in Chambal sanctuary
KOTA: While there were just 12 nests, 17 adults and 280 hatchlings of gavials in 2013, there are 24 nests, 35 adults and 340 hatchlings this year
HARI MOHAN MEENA, researcher
The Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary of Kota is witnessing growth in the number of gavials, which were on the verge of extinction some years ago.
Gudla area near Khatoli in Kota district which lies 120 km from Kota City at the confluence of Chambal river and Parvati river, has emerged as the breeding site of gavials, whose population is still considered critically endangered worldwide.
A wildlife research scholar, Hari Mohan Meena, said that there has been a gradual rise in the nesting and population of gavials at Gudla over the last five years.
Hari Mohan Meena, who is working a research project on gavials under supervision of Dr KS Nama of Kota and Dr SR Tagore of UP, said that the nests and adult population of gavials have doubled in last five years at Gudla.
“While there were just 12 nests, 17 adults and 280 hatchAlso, lings of gavials in 2013, there are 24 nests, 35 adults and 340 hatchlings this year,” said Meena, who is also a wildlife biologist at Society for conservation of Historical and ecological resources (SCHER), Kota.
However, Meena said that although the adult population and nests were more this year, the hatchlings have reduced due to predation of the gavial eggs by jackal and less rains.
Citing reasons for the rise in gavial population, Meena said that there are sandy banks at Gudla which are conducive for their breeding.
formation of dedicated staff for National Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary has helped in protection and conservation of gavials.
Deputy conservator of forest, Rambabu Bhardwaj, said that the dedicated staff of wildlife department had been formed in 2012 following which there was a considerable growth in gavial population.
“There are around 100 staffers of wildlife department who guards gavial nests and eggs along with bio-fencing of nests to protect the eggs from predators,” Bhardwaj said.
Meena, who is also among the contributors from Hadauti region for the Globally Ghariyal population red list Assessment , 2018.
Gavials are endemic to India and the Indian subcontinent. World's 85% gavial population is found in the Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary that spans across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The remaining gavial population is found in other parts of India and Nepal.