Save ‘gharials’
Photo: www.whozoo.org
The geographical range of the distribution of gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) has dwindled within the natural range countries Pakistan, Bhutan, India and Nepal but more significantly in Bangladesh. Wild populations can only be found now in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Only few pairs in the wild are reported to be surviving in the Padma-Jamuna river system, Bangladesh. Gharials have been listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List 2007 and have again been identified as the most threatened crocodilian species in the world in a recent resolution of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and World Conservation Union (IUCN) (October 2007). With the rapid increase in the magnitude of threatening ecological and social factors, the gharials in Bangladesh are facing their worst nightmare and are at the verge of extinction. No detailed surveys have ever been conducted to ascertain the population of the surviving gharials in Bangladesh. Information from some sporadic reconnaissance surveys at some specific locations in the 1980s (Khan 1982, Rashid et al 1984, Faiz & Rahman 1985) exist but those are more than two decades old. In the meantime there has been a lot of changes in the river ecosystem as well as physical alteration of the river habitat due to erosion, sand mining, etc. The intensity in fishing activities, river traffic has also increased adding to the plight of the survival of the gharials. Further, reports of sightings of gharials and entangling in fishing nets have also appeared in the national dailies from areas not previously recorded. It is high time that initiatives be taken to: * Conduct a detailed population survey. * Assess the threats to its survival. * Develop management plan. * Assist the relevant authorities in conserving the gharials in Bangladesh, * Assist the zoos to initiate captive breeding programme. * Initiate programmes to involve local people and NGOs in conservation activities. Gharials are a notable asset of our natural heritage and a flagship species for our river ecosystem. Once lost it will be gone forever and so will be our pride that we could not do anything to save this amazing species within its natural distribution range - Bangladesh.
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