The crocodile-like reptiles, considered critically endangered, were sent to the reserve as per the policy of increasing the number of crocodiles in big rivers like Koshi. Six female and four male gharials have been sent to the reserve from crocodile breeding center at CNP, according to acting chief conservation officer Laxman Poudel. [break]
Crocodile expert and assistant conservation officer Ved Bahadur Khadka will release the five-year-old crocodilians into the Koshi river on Wednesday. Likewise, CNP is also sending 10 more crocodiles to Bardiya National Park this week. It released 10 crocodiles in Rapti river last week.
CNP said it has so far released 708 crocodiles at different rivers across the country but number of the reptile has been decreasing in these rivers despite CNP´s efforts.
The only breeding center in CNP is working hard to arrest the slide. The center has collected more than six dozens crocodile eggs. Fifteen crocodiles are currently preparing to hatch young ones from these eggs.
There are as many as 440 crocodiles at CNP currently.
Conservation officials claim that government has not paid enough attention to conservation of gharial though it is more endangered than the one-horned rhino.
They say decrease in number of fish, gharial´s major food, along with receding water level in big rivers, is the main reason for their dwindling population. Moreover, they claim that crocodiles that enter Indian territory cannot return due to construction of dams.
The last census conducted in 2008 put the number of endangered gharials at 81 with 41 of them in Narayani, 24 in Rapti, 10 in Babai of Bardiya and six in Karnali rivers. CNP has been involved in gharial conservation right from its inception in 1973.
Related story
Fishing nets prove fatal for endangered gharials
