Why in news
Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) were believed to have been wiped out from the Brahmaputra river system during 1950s
A lone female gharial has recently spotted in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in eastern Assam.
Wildlife officials and specialists are not sure how this gharial came to inhabit a stretch of the Brahmaputra within the national park
Gharial
Gharials, sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts.
Crocodilians are a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more.
India has three species of Crocodilians namely: Gharial, Mugger crocodile, Saltwater crocodile
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): IUCN Red List- Critically Endangered
All the three are listed on Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Habitat of Gharials:
Globally Gharial is found only in India and Nepal.
In India their major population occur in three tributaries of the Ganga River: the Chambal and the Girwa Rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.
The Gharial reserves of India are located in three States – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Significance: Population of Gharials are a good indicator of clean river water.
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