The forest department confirmed the presence of Indian Gharial in Greater Kaziranga after 75 years. The survey along the Brahmaputra discovered over 900 freshwater turtles and recorded sightings of Gangetic river dolphins and otters.
The presence of Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in Greater Kaziranga has been confirmed by the forest department after a gap of 75 years, officials said, sharing the outcome of a latest survey conducted in January. Due to massive decline in its population in the last century, the Indian Gharial has been placed under IUCN red data list as critically endangered and listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
More than 900 freshwater turtles representing five species, along with one female gharial, were found during the survey conducted on a 160-km-long stretch of the Brahmaputra from January 16 to 25 by the Biswanath Wildlife Division (under Kaziranga Tiger Reserve) and TSA Foundation India.
Kaziranga has a recorded abundance of over 42 species of freshwater fishes and thus, officials said, it is one of the best habitats for gharials in the long run.
While India’s largest gharial population resides in the National Chambal Sanctuary, which hosts around 77 per cent of the global adult population, the rest found in India are concentrated in various locations, including the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, the Gandak River on the Indo-Nepal border, Corbett National Park, the Son River, Mahanadi River and Hastinapur sanctuary.
BOX: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
CROCODILE VS GHARIAL VS ALLIGATOR
· Crocodiles can be found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America, while alligators in North America and Asia.
· Gharials can only be found in India and neighbouring countries.
· The main criteria used to distinguish members of the three crocodilian Families are associated with the head, particularly the jaws and skull. The skull and jaws of all crocodilians function identically and are composed of the same suite of bones. But there is variation in the extent to which different bones compose certain structures.
· While alligators tend to have broad snouts, which are often referred to as being "shovel-shaped", the upper jaw of crocodiles is not as broad as that of alligators.
· The Gharial, on the other hand, have greatly elongated snouts. This elongation has been achieved more by compacting the cranial part of the skull, at the rear, than by elongation of the whole head.