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150 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3  •  SEPTEMBER 2008 CHAUDHARI

The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a critically endangered species endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. 

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In April of this year, 26 female Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus)
laid eggs on an island in the Girwa River in the Katerniaghat

Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, a few Mugger Crocodiles
(Crocodylus palustris) nested there. As in previous years, Mr.
Ramesh Pandey, Divisional Forestry Officer at the sanctuary,
facilitated nesting by providing a soft and secure sand bar. In
March, grasses on the island were cleared and the sand softened
by digging. Trial nesting by female Gharials was observed dur-

ing the last week of March. Actual nesting began on 1 April and
hatchlings emerged in June. Two years ago, only 6–8 nests were
located. This year about 1000 hatchlings were counted at one
location along the river.

The Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is a secure refuge and
the best hope for protecting Gharials from extinction. About
800 Gharials hatch each year. However, this year, monsoon rains
during the last week of June led to flooding of the Girwa River,

Gharial Reproduction and Mortality
Suresh Chaudhari

Katerniaghat Foundation, Lucknow, India
Photographs by the author except where noted.

IGUANA  •  VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3  •  SEPTEMBER 2008 151GAVIALIS GANGETICUS

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Gharial nesting site on an island in the Girwa River in the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

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and nearly all of the hatchlings were swept away. Additional pro-
tective measures will have to be developed in order to prevent a
recurrence in future years.

Early this year, more than 100 Gharials died in the
Chambal River Wildlife Sanctuary. Investigators have ruled out
the possibility of any infection or parasite as the cause of the
deaths. Dead Gharials were diagnosed with kidney damage and
failure, significant gout within the body cavities and around
internal organs (visceral gout), and gout within the joints (artic-
ular gout). A toxin is suspected of causing the kidney damage

and failure, although neither a toxin nor a potential source has
been identified. Further investigations will focus on fish inhab-
iting the river, as well as industrial and other human activities in
the region. For more information, see www.gharials.org.

The recently established Katerniaghat Foundation is work-
ing for conservation of Gharials and other wildlife species in the
sanctuary. These include Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Asian
Elephants, Indian Rhinoceros, deer, pythons, Gangetic
Dolphins, various turtles, and many species of resident and
migratory birds.

152 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3  •  SEPTEMBER 2008 CHAUDHARI

Gharial hatchlings in the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary are vulner-
able to monsoon flooding, necessitating the development of a conser-
vation strategy to address this threat in future years.

An adult Gharial patrolling a sandy area where hatchlings are basking.

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IGUANA  •  VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3  •  SEPTEMBER 2008 153GAVIALIS GANGETICUS

Early this year, more than 100 Gharials died of unknown causes in the Chambal River Wildlife Sanctuary.

www.gharials.org

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