| Royal Chitawan National Park- Rapti-Narayani River |
| Nepal |
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| Habitat Area (length x river width): |
18 km2 of gharial habitat |
| Significance: |
Only known breeding population of gharials outside of India. |
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| Latest survey results (2006): |
8 adults |
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Habitat destruction |
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Pollution |
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Disturbance |
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Illegal Fishing |
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Poaching and egg collection |
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Dam |
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| In Chitawan National Park 457 gharial have been released since restocking efforts began. Results have been disappointing, as there were 16 nests found in 1977 and in 2006 there were only 6. Restocking has clearly not resulted in lasting recruitment or establishment of a healthy breeding population, though it is argued that at least total extinction has been averted by supplementation. The failure of restocking programs may be attributed largely to growing and uncontrolled human pressures, including depletion of the fish resources, which has limited released gharials’ chances of survival. Pollution coming from the two beer and paper factories dumps waste into the Narayani River at the north end of the Park, killing fish and further depleting gharials’ prey base. The creation of irrigation canals, increased demographic pressure and the dam at the south end of the park have contributed to reduction in available habitat and food resource for gharials. The dam has changed the course of the river, resulting in scarcity of fish and flooding of gharial nesting sites during the high water period. Disturbance of gharial basking and nesting activity has also been detrimental. A site can have as many as 51 disturbances per day (fishermen and tourists) during optimal basking period. Gharial deaths due to fishing nets are unquantified but reports indicate this is a significant source of mortality, especially in young gharials. Gharial eggs are collected for consumption by tribals and gharials are still sometimes killed for use in traditional medicines. |
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