103 crocodiles released in the Rapti river

Chitwan, March 4: A total of 103 crocodiles raised at the Gharial Breeding Centre in Kasara, Chitwan, have been released into the Rapti River at different times since mid-July 2024. Of these, one is male, and the rest are females.

According to Abinash Thapa Magar, the information officer of Chitwan National Park (CNP), the crocodiles released into the river were hatched in 2020. Last fiscal year, the CNP had released 105 crocodiles into the river. The eggs of the crocodiles are collected from the riverbanks and then hatched under artificial conditions at the Centre. Once grown, the reptiles are released into the river.

Since its establishment in 1978, a total of 2,060 crocodiles have been released into various rivers in the country, including the Rapti and Narayani rivers. However, the survival rate of these animals is very low. Thapa Magar mentioned that during last year’s survey, 152 crocodiles were recorded in the Rapti River and 113 in the Narayani River. Currently, the Centre houses 697 crocodiles.

The gharial is an endangered reptile, and its population has become restricted to Nepal and India in recent years. In the past, it could be found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. In 1940, the global population of gharials was around 10,000, but by 1970, their numbers had significantly decreased, reaching just two percent of the previous population. When the Centre was established, fewer than 100 gharials were estimated to remain in the country.

Increasing human encroachment on rivers, extraction of river-based products, and fishing are among the factors threatening the natural habitats of these animals. Additionally, during floods, gharials can be swept away beyond the Nepal-India border.

RSS