Gharial

Gharial

Also know as the Gavial or fish-eating crocodile, and is one of the longest crocodilians with females 2.6-4.5m and males 3-6m long. It currently lives in rivers in the northern half of India, and is one of the most aquatic crocodilian, only leaving water to lay eggs and to sunbathe.

Rapid declines in 1930 have left them occupying only 2% of their former range, with a captive breeding program having run since the 1980s to reintroduce them to their former range. It has been listed as critically endangered since 2007.

The global population in 2007 (last full survey) was 900. Much work is going on with reintroduction projects in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

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