Rare gharials hatch babies in Kailali

By Avinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, July 25:The rare gharials hatched offspring in their natural habitats in the Patharaiya and Karnali rivers in Kailali district this year.

Last year, a gharial hatched babies at the confluence of the Patharaiya and Kadha rivers. This year, 124 babies are hatched in two locations in Patharaiya and three locations in the Karnali River.

In 2023, a gharial hatched 35 babies from one nest and four nests were found in the Karnali River this year. But babies are hatched only from three nests, according to Bhojraj Dhungana, president of Dolphin Aquatic and Biodiversity Conservation Nepal. Floods washed away one nest, he said.

According to Dhungana, 84 live babies came out from three nests. Three eggs were spoiled, and 14 babies were found dead. Similarly, three nests were found in the Patharaiya River. Out of these, 28 babies came out from two nests. Dhungana informed that 14 eggs from two nests were damaged, and one baby was found dead.

“For gharials to hatch, nests should be located in slightly elevated places. Two nests built in lower areas were unsuccessful due to floods,” he said.

Adult female gharials can be 3.5 to 4.5 metres long. Female gharials reach reproductive maturity at around nine to ten years of age. After mating in December and January, they lay eggs around March and April. They build nests (pits) in the sand along riverbanks and lay up to 40 eggs at a time. After burying the eggs in the nest, the gharials return to the water but periodically check the nests until the babies hatch.

According to Dhungana, gharials build nests where the temperature is balanced. The eggs hatch naturally within 60 to 90 days. The mother carries the hatched babies on her body to the water for their activities. 

Adult gharials eat large fish, while small gharials eat smaller fish. The endangered gharial is found in small numbers in Nepal. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973 has listed gharials as protected reptile wildlife.

Gharials are less aggressive than mugger crocodiles. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are known to be calm, said Dhungana. “Because they cannot walk or run on land, gharials cannot hunt prey on land. They are not particularly dangerous to humans and other mammals,” he informed.

This year, up to 12 gharials have been seen in the Mohana, Patharaiya, and Kandra rivers in the dolphin sanctuary. Gharials and mugger crocodiles inhabit the rivers where dolphins are found throughout the year.