Volume 4, Issue 1 (3-2022)
JAD 2022, 4(1): 1-17 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Bohara S, Joshi R, Poudel B. Population status, distribution and threats of the critically endangered Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in Narayani River of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. JAD 2022; 4 (1) :1-17
URL: http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-223-en.html
URL: http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-223-en.html
1- Siddhant Campus, Affiliated to Agriculture and Forestry University, Gaindakot-33000, Nawalparasi, Nepal
2- Faculty of Forestry, Agriculture and Forestry University, Hetauda 44107, Nepal; Amity Global Education (Lord Buddha College), CTEVT, Tokha 11, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal ,joshi.rajeev20@gmail.com
3- Department of Forestry, Amity Global Education (Lord Buddha College), CTEVT, Tokha 11, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
2- Faculty of Forestry, Agriculture and Forestry University, Hetauda 44107, Nepal; Amity Global Education (Lord Buddha College), CTEVT, Tokha 11, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal ,
3- Department of Forestry, Amity Global Education (Lord Buddha College), CTEVT, Tokha 11, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Abstract: (7294 Views)
The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as the gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a member of the family Gavialidae, is the most threatened of the two species of crocodilians found in Nepal. However, sufficient information on its habitat characteristics influencing population status, distribution, and threats to its existence are lacking. We studied the gharial population in the Narayani River that was carried out in the winter season during December 2019 to April of 2020. During our surveys, a total of 117 gharials were recorded, including an adult male, 56 adult females, 19 sub-adults, 32 immature and nine were unidentified. The gharial census recorded 57 gharials in Sikrauli-Amaltari (Chitwan branch) river section followed by 14 in Sikrauli-Amaltari (Nawalparasi branch), 16 in Amaltari-Baguwan and 30 in the Baguwan-Tribeni River sections. Of 117 individuals, the number of gharials sighted under the direct observation category was 112. The majority of respondents (129 of 140) during our questionnaire, considered gharial as an important species and displayed a favorable attitude towards gharial conservation. This study concludes that the population of gharial in the Narayani River has increased, as the present population is larger than recorded during previous surveys. Finally, regular surveys and monitoring of gharial in the area are recommended to investigate the status of gharial, the prevalence of any threats and disturbance along the habitat of this important species.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Ecological Diversity
Received: 2021/10/14 | Accepted: 2022/03/3 | Published: 2022/03/31
Received: 2021/10/14 | Accepted: 2022/03/3 | Published: 2022/03/31
References
1. Acharya, K. P., Khadka, B. K., Jnawali, S. R., Malla, S., Bhattarai, S., Wikramanayake, E. and Köhl, M. (2017). Conservation and population recovery of gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) in Nepal. Herpetologica, 73 (2), 129-135. [DOI:10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-16-00048.1]
2. Behera, S. K., Singh, H. and Sagar, V. (2014). Indicator species (Gharial and Dolphin) of riverine ecosystem: An exploratory of River Ganga. In: Our National River Ganga. Springer, Cham. pp. 121-141. [DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-00530-0_4]
3. Bhatta, R. (2009). Study on status, distribution and threats to Gharial in Rapti River of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. British Ecological Society Report, UK.
4. Biswas, S. (1970). A preliminary survey of gharial in the Kosi River. Indian Forester, 96 (9): 705-710.
5. Das, G. M. (1981). Conservation and research on Gharials in Orissa. Indian Forester, 107 (1): 42-50.
6. DNPWC. (2016). Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, 2016, Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. DNPWC. (2018). Gharial Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2018-2022). Kathmandu, Nepal.
8. Gmelin, J. F. (1789). Linne susteme naturae. Leipzig ed. 13. 1978 (1): 1057.
9. Isles, T. E. (2009). The socio-sexual behaviour of extant archosaurs: implications for understanding dinosaur behaviour. Historical Biology, 21 (3-4): 139-214. [DOI:10.1080/08912960903450505]
10. IUCN (2007). 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org (Accessed: 29th March 2022).
11. IUCN Bangladesh. (2016). Gharials of Bangladesh. IUCN International :union: for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office., Dhaka, Bangladesh.
12. Khadka, B. B. (2010). Gharial hatching status in 2010, Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter, 29 (3): 16-17. July-August. IUCN-SSC.
13. Khadka, B. B., Gairhe, K. P., Kharel, F. and Malla, S. (2013). Captive, semi-captive gharial management and husbandry techniques in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, In: World Crocodile Conference. Proceedings of the 22nd Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, Negombo, Sri Lanka, 21 (23): 36-40.
14. Khadka, M., Kafley, H. and Thapaliya, B. P. (2008). Population status and distribution of Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in Nepal, In: Forum of Natural Resource Managers Report, Nepal.
15. Lee, M. S. and Yates, A. M. (2018). Tip-dating and homoplasy: reconciling the shallow molecular divergences of modern gharials with their long fossil record. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285 (1881): 20181071. [DOI:10.1098/rspb.2018.1071] [PMID] [PMCID]
16. Luxmoore, R. A. (Ed.). (1992). Directory of crocodilian farming operations. IUCN.
17. Maskey, T. M. (1989). Movement and survival of captive-reared Gharial Gavialis gangeticus in the Narayani River, Nepal. Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Florida, Gainesville. [DOI:10.5962/bhl.title.118878]
18. Maskey, T. M. and Mishra, H. R. (1981). Conservation of Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus, in Nepal, In: Majupuria, T.C. (Ed.), Wild is Beautiful. S. Devi, Lalitpur Colony, Lashkar (Gwallor), M. P. India. Pp. 185-196.
19. Maskey, T. M. and Percival, H. F. (1994). Status and conservation of Gharial in Nepal, In: Proceedings of the 12th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group. Thailand. pp. 190-194.
20. Maskey, T. M., Percival, H. F. and Abercombie, C. L. (1995). Gharial habitat use in Nepal. Journal of Herpetology, 29 (3): 463-464. [DOI:10.2307/1565001]
21. Murthy, T. S. N. and Menon, A. G. K. (1977). Conservation and utilisation of the crocodilian fauna of India. Indian Forester, 103 (6): 389-394.
22. Neill, W. T. (1971). The last of the ruling reptiles: alligators, crocodiles, and their kin. Columbia University Press, New York; London.
23. Neupane, B., Singh, B. K., Poudel, P., Panthi, S. and Khatri, N. D. (2020). Habitat occupancy and threat assessment of gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in the Rapti River, Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 24: e01270. [DOI:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01270]
24. Poudyal, L. P., Dahal, B., Lamichhane, B. R. and Shrestha, P. (2018). Population status and distribution of Gharial in Rivers of Chitwan National Park, Government of Nepal. Ministry of Forest and Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal.
25. Rajbanshi, K. G. (2002). Zoo-geographical distribution and the status of coldwater fish of Nepal. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper, 221-246.
26. Rajbhandari, S. L. and Acharya, P. M. (2015). Study of investigation of population, habitat and hatching success of Gavialis gangeticus in Narayani River of Chitwan National Park. Rufford Small Grant Foundation, UK. [DOI:10.3126/jnhm.v27i0.14148]
27. Rashid, S. M. A. (2003). Crocodile in peril. Star, 4-9. Dhaka.
28. Roy, R. K., Pillai, K. G. M. and Singh, L. A. K. (1982). Captive rearing and management of crocodile in India. A Field Guide. Central Crocodile Breeding and Mamagement Traning Institute Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
29. Saikia, B. P., Saud, B. J., Saikia, M. K. and Saikia, P. K. (2010). Present distribution status and conservation threats of Indian Gharial in Assam, India. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2 (12): 382-387.
30. Saikia, P. K. (2013). Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): status, ecology and conservation. Rare Animals of India, 1: 76. [DOI:10.2174/9781608054855113010007]
31. Salas-Gismondi, R., Flynn, J. J., Baby, P., Tejada-Lara, J. V., Claude, J. and Antoine, P. O. (2016). A new 13 million year old gavialoid crocodylian from proto-Amazonian mega-wetlands reveals parallel evolutionary trends in skull shape linked to longirostry. PloS One, 11 (4): e0152453. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0152453] [PMID] [PMCID]
32. Shah, K. B. and Tiwari, S. (2004). Herpetofauna of Nepal: A conservation companion. IUCN Nepal; Gharial habitat use in Nepal. Journal of Herpetology, 29 (3): 463-464. [DOI:10.2307/1565001]
33. Singh, H. and Rao, R. J. (2017). Status, threats and conservation challenges to key aquatic fauna (crocodile and dolphin) in National Chambal Sanctuary, India. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 20 (1-2): 59-70. [DOI:10.1080/14634988.2017.1298964]
34. Singh, L. A. K. (1991). Distribution of Gavialis gangeticus. Hamadryad, 16 (1 and 2): 39-46.
35. Singh, V. B. (1978). Status of the gharial in Uttar Pradesh and its rehabilitation. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 75 (3): 668-683.
36. Smith, M. A. (1931). The fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma. Reptiles and Amphibians. Volume 1. Taylor and Francis Ltd, London, 185 pp. [DOI:10.2307/1436417]
37. Stevenson, C. and Whitaker, R. (2010). Gharial Gavialis gangeticus. Crocodiles. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, 139-143.
38. Thapaliya, B. P., Khadka, M. and Kafley, H. (2009). Population status and distribution of Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in Nepal. The Initiation, 3: 1-11. [DOI:10.3126/init.v3i0.2422]
39. Whitaker, R. (1975). Status and conservation of the Gharial. Herpetological Review, 6 (1): 1-3.
40. Whitaker, R. and Basu, D. (1982). The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): A review. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Bombay, 79 (3): 531-548.
41. Whitaker, R. and Rajamani, V. C. (1976). Gharial survey report.Mimeographed report for the New York Zoological Society. 19 pp.
42. Whitaker, R., Rajamani, V., Basu, D. and Balakrishnan, V. (1974). Preliminary survey of the Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus. Madras Snake Park Trust Report. 16 pp.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
| Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb