The gharial, a Critically Endangered species, is an unmistakable crocodilian on the edge of extinction. Recognizable by its long, slender jaws adapted for catching fish, males have a distinctive bulbous growth on their snouts called a "ghara," which is named after a traditional Indian pot. This unique feature is also the basis for the species' common name, "gharial." Unlike other crocodiles, gharials exhibit a marked difference between males and females.
Once widespread throughout the Indian subcontinent, the gharial now survives in only five small, isolated populations across India and Nepal. The IUCN Red List classifies the gharial as Critically Endangered due to drastic population declines—up to 98% since the 1940s—leaving fewer than 250 adult individuals in the wild. Major threats to the species include severe degradation of riverine habitats caused by dams, barrages, irrigation canals, and artificial embankments. Additionally, sand mining negatively impacts their habitat, disrupting the breeding ecology critical for their survival.
Join Dr. Gaurav Vashistha, the founder of the Gharial Conservation Programme at Katerniaghat, one of the last strongholds of the gharials. We talk about the ecology and conservation of the gharials, covering the various reintroduction efforts around India!
The Think Wildlife Podcast is also available on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube. Please do consider upgrading to an optional paid subscription on Substack. 30% of the revenue from this episode will be donated to Gharial Conservation Programme!
Meet the Host
Anish Banerjee: https://x.com/anishwildlife
Think Wildlife Foundation: https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com/
Meet the Guests
Dr. Gaurav Vashistha: https://x.com/gaurav_gharial
Recommended Wildlife Conservation Books
Wildlife Conservation in India by HS Pabla: https://amzn.to/3Ypx9Zh
Indian Mammals: A Field Guide by Vivek Menon: https://amzn.to/4fhMiCL
At the Feet of Living Things by Aparajita Datta: https://amzn.to/3BZmtsN
Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe
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