265 gharials counted in Rapti and Narayani rivers

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 4: A total of 265 gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) have been documented in the Narayani and Rapti rivers. The Gharial count took place from December 17 to December 31, 2023 in both rivers. As per the census, there are 152 gharials in the Rapti River and 113 in the Narayani River.

A total of 10 staff members from Chitwan National Park and the National Trust for Nature Conservation, Sauraha, were deployed for the census of the endangered gharials. Various tools and equipment, including drones, river rafts, GPS devices, cameras, and binoculars were used for the survey.

During the count, three dolphins were also observed. This unexpected discovery adds a valuable dimension to the overall success of the monitoring process, said a press statement issued by Chitwan National Park on Tuesday.