€10604

donated by Herpetofauna

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a very special, but also very endangered species of crocodile, which only occurs in a few places in India and Nepal. This animal has a unique appearance with the large body and the very narrow snout, on which the males have a bulge called the 'ghara' from which this species owes its name.

These animals have been able to coexist peacefully with humans for a very long time, mainly due to the fact that they are food specialists who do not prey on humans. Their diet consists mainly of fish and therein lies the major problem for this species. Many animals die because they get abandoned fishing gear in their mouths, which means that the animals can no longer hunt or even drown.

To ensure that there is no illegal fishing in these areas and certainly no material is left behind, patrolling is necessary and this is best done in watchtowers built for that purpose. The presence of rangers in these towers significantly decreases illegal fishing and poaching, which benefits huge numbers of animals. The Herpetofauna Foundation co-financed the construction of several towers.

This project was started by the Gharial Conservation Alliance (of which the Herpetofauna Foundation is currently a member), the IRCF and local governments.