In the past two decades, 708 gharials were released by the park to the Narayani River. But a 2008 census found just 65 gharials in Chitwan. There are just 81 gharials left in the country, which has worried conservationists.
Conservationists have urged parliamentarians to take steps to conserve the gharials. A week ago, CNP´s conservationists drew the attention of a visiting team of parliamentarians to the fact that gharials are more threatened than the rhinos.
The biggest reason behind the declining population of gharials is the destruction of its habitat with the receding water levels in major rivers. Similarly, fishermen who capture fishes -- the gharials´ staple diet -- is also a reason, according to Pradhan.
Some of the gharials could have migrated downstream to India looking for food, while others are swept downstream when the gates of dams built on the rivers are opened.
Efforts to conserve gharials started in 1973 when CNP was established. The effort to increase their population by breeding them in captivity at a breeding center in CNP continues till today. Today, there are nearly 500 gharials, including babies, at the breeding center. For breeding, the center has two male gharials and nine females.
An adult gharial can be up to seven meters long. The gharials are released in the river when they reach five to six years of age and about 1.5 meters long.
The CNP has over 12 employees who are entrusted with the responsibility to take care of the gharials.
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