On this year’s World Environment Day, 5th
June, with the heart-warming arrival of a few hatchlings a new breeding population
for the gharial has been confirmed along river Gandak, in Bihar. This is
crucial for the survival of this species.
The Gharial(Gavialisgangeticus) is a critically endangered freshwater fish-eating
crocodile endemic
to the Indian sub-continent. As
per IUCN their number was less than 200 in 2006, recent estimates suggest around
550 adults, and more than double if sub adults are counted (Tiger numbers in
Indian are about 2226). This beautiful animal, endemic to the Indian
sub-continent can reach a stupendous
7m (22 feet)length, it has a long snout that ends into a shape like a Ghara (pot) in the
male, giving the reptile its name Gharial. In India gharials have
been reported in the Chambal,
Girwa, Ghaghra, Gandak, Ganga, Sone and Ken though some of these population is
very small or have effectively disappeared. They are primarily cold blooded fish feeders, and bask
in the sun to warm themselves. Their life span is estimated around 50-60 years.
Samir Kumar Sinha who heads the Gharial Conservation Project of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)helps us understand the significance of this newly confirmed breeding population and why it is important to save the gharial
Interview by Peeyush
Sekhsaria and Parikshit Suryavanshi
1. How
did work on the Gharial start in the Gandak?
I
worked on the Gangetic Dolphin before joining the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)
in 2003. We hardly saw gharials during our dolphin surveys, though, on one
occasion, we recovered a carcass of a young gharial in the Gandak, its tail was
cut off. 2003 onwards whileworking in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve with WTI, I saw
7-8 gharials opposite Trivenighatalong the Nepal side of the river.
Some
7-8 years back renowned gharial expert, late Dhruvjyoti Basu, fondly known as
Basu da asked me about gharial sightings in the Gandak including in its Nepal
stretch. My sighting reports triggered a multi-organizational multispecies
survey in the Gandak in January 2010which recorded a remnant population of
gharials.
Based
on the survey findings,in 2012, the Bihar government sought WTI’s technical
support to strengthen the gharial population.In fact, Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar personally took interest and follows up on the project even today. The
then Forest Secretary, Mr. Deepak Kumar Singh and forest officials took great
interest and in 2014 therestockingofgharials in theGandak from the captive born
stock at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Patna was started. This is a Bihar
Forest Department funded project, which reflects the commitment of the
state.Senior Advisor to WTI, renowned crocodilian scientist Prof. B. C.
Choudhury guides the project.
2.
What
makes the Gandak so special that gharials continue to survive and even breed?
Just
after entering India from Nepal, the river gets the protection of theValmiki
Tiger Reserve on its left bank for about 45 km, andthe SohagiBarwa Wildlife
Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh for about 7-8 km along its right bank. Limited
agriculture is done on the banks as very few villages are situated on the banks
since the river keeps on eroding its sides, there are no major towns and cities
along the river Gandak.
The
river channel is much braided, consisting of a network of many small channels separated by vast
mid-channel islands, which are almost free from anthropogenic activities,
fishing pressure is comparatively low. Such features provide a less disturbed
habitat andgharialspopulations are still there.
You
would be happy to know that in a March 2015 survey Gandak had 54
gharials of which 26 were adult. With the recent arrivals the numbers are
likely to rise.
3.
The
Gandak was once a happy Gharial ground, but numbers declined – why did this
happen and what do we need to do to ensure that this does not happen again?
Construction
of a barrage across the river at Valmikinagar in late 1960s destroyed suitable
gharial habitats downstream. After that, the region was taken over by
anti-social elements. The law and order condition in the area was very poor,
thismight have been the reason for no scientific studies in this region,
gharials might have also been killed, nobody knows.
After
2007-08, law and order situation in the Gandak floodplains was brought under
control. Now we stay on the rivers for weeks without any fear, safety is very
important for any conservation work. In due course of time the river
geomorphology also got modified, probably favoring the gharials.
4.
Releasing
the Gharials, monitoring them and praying for their survival? How do you
protect them?
Since
a wild population was sighted in 2010, we felt the need for strengthening it
through restocking with sub-adult gharials, whose chances of survival and adaptation
are better than young ones. Release sites were determined based on detailed
habitat assessment surveys along 50-60 km looking at presence of anthropogenic
disturbance, fish, sand banks and bars and natural gharial population.
All
released individuals are uniquely marked for identification, few are tagged
with VHF and satellite transmitters and are monitored through the entire river
stretch including important basking sites. The project is just 2 years old and
we are still learning about gharials in the Gandak.
Captive
breeding and release is important but the most important is to keep the habitat
safe and secure for the species. Sometimes as you start doing something
special, it comes under formal and non-formal protective regime. Monitoring of total
population, of the released ones, of human activities is important so isrecording
the threats, change in geo-morphology of the river all of which determines the
habitat use by aquatic animals.
5.
How
do captive bred sub-adults cope with release into the wild?
We
observed that captive bred individuals on release avoid going in the main
current, they live in groups as they do in captivity for 7-8 days, after which
they disperse. Even after living for so many years in a small pool in
captivity, they are able to identify the natural habitat suitable to them. They
use the areas which wild gharials already occupy with released and wild
gharials basking together, it gives a lot of satisfaction. We have observed
released ones moving more than 1000 km and entering into other rivers after 7-8
months of their release.
6.
What
are the biggest challenges and the ways to tackle them?
The
biggest challenge that I see is development activities. The recent news that the Gandak will be developed
as an Inland Waterway is a great potential threat to the gharials. But,
I am sure gharial presence will be considered when detailed studies and
environmental impact assessment are conducted. We will raise this issue at the
suitable platform.
The
Forest, Water Resources and Mines and Geology departments are important
stakeholders.Along protected areas, we take the help of forest department staff,
we train them in identification of species, monitoring, we inform them of
stretches critical to the gharial and suggest actions to be enforced.
Water
of the Gandak is diverted for irrigation through canals. We need to work out
how much a minimum flow of water is required for gharials and other species
like Gangetic dolphins, and only then canwe move ahead. Working with the Water Resources department,
which operates the barrage across Gandak is important to ensure water in the
river. Though we have yet to see any major problem related to sand
mining in this area, the Mines and Geology Department is another important
stakeholder. Definitely, in the coming years rigorous planning for gharial
conservation needs to be done keeping in mind stakeholder’s concerns and giving
them space in the management regime. Till the gharial gets the support of the
Chief Minister of the state I don’t foresee any difficulty in co-coordinating
with other departments.
Thus
protection strategy is multi-pronged. However, despite efforts many a time
disturbance occurs, which we should bear as a part of the system. In the
current scenario we cannot expect a zero disturbance zone, especially in our
river systems.
WTI
is committed to continue till we see that gharials are well established and the
state functionaries are capable of managing on their own. Dearth of continued
funding support for such species is always an issue, but, we will overcome this
hurdle.
7.
What
are the difficulties of working on river systems?
I
have worked in both systems, there are more difficulties working in river
systems. For forests there is a department which has priorities for the
ecosystem, there is no such custodian in case of rivers. There are several
conflicts among river water resource users and stakeholders. A river governance
structure needs to be created and streamlined through policy interventions.
8.
How
important is the involvement of local communities and how best can they be involved?
Though
in the Gandak area, there are very few villages, and most of the farmers and
fishermen are active in the river areas for a very limited period, their
involvement is very important. We involve local fishermen in our surveys and interact
regularly with fishermen and farmers along the bank. When they see gharial monitoring
teamsoften, they respect your effort and also avoid directly disturbing the
animal,they spread your word to others. Our boatmen, our farmers with whom we
lunch and dine during surveys and field work, are the brand ambassadors for
gharials. During night stays on the river’s banks we discuss the threats to
gharials and other aquatic life with the farmers.
They give us much past information
about river condition and historical presence of gharials and other aquatic
species. Their role in nest protection is very important, since they are the
people living closest to the gharial nests.
We
see a great scope in developing community managed in-situ hatchery for gharial
and turtles in the area. This will help the villagers earn while conserving
these species, it will help establish bonds with the species, which means a
better future of the species.
9.
How is the gharial perceived by humans?Does
the gharial show up in the Indian sub-continents mythology – can such
associations be used to generate greater empathy and protection?
Those who have
not actually seen the gharials typically perceive them as dangerous.Human-mugger
conflict is significant, and most of the people think of the gharialsame as the
mugger. Those who live along the river know that gharials do not harm them, but
they are afraid of it due to the size of the animal.
There are
many mythological associations, to many the gharial is the Vahana (vehicle) of the River Goddess Ma Ganga, others
revere it as a vehicle of Varuna, the
‘God of Water’. It is also said that while preaching the Geeta to Arjuna, Sri
Krishna said ‘Amongst aquatic life forms, I am the gharial’.
How
effective such associations would bein the current scenario where consumerism
and immediate gains rule is a question butwe need to associate mythologies with
ecological values of the rivers and life forms in themand the role of indicator
species like the gharial and Gangetic Dolphins.
10. Is there any special moment carved
in your memory related to this project?
I
can’t describe the thrill seeing a half dug nest by a gharial, we were camping
on the river bank and at a distance of about 100 m from our tent a gharial dug
her nest in the evening.
There
are many other momentsthat will stay for a lifetime;release of the first batch
of gharials, the first
individual fitted with satellite tag entering the Gandak after almost 9 years
in captivity, your released animal basking with a wild gharial.
11. As a lay reader and wildlife enthusiast living the urban life how can one make a positive contribution to the Gharial?
Theyare many ways, raise your voices
on the issues and threats at regional or national level; visit the gharial
bearing areas to know more about this less popular species, it will also help
convey the message of its importance to the local communities and authorities;
contribute towards field level conservation actions by volunteering, funding
support, and help the communities dependent on gharial habitat for sustenance. Gharial
conservation needs all skill sets, integrating your knowledge and expertise in
doing something innovative for the conservation of gharial and its habitat.
First published in
Sanctuary Asia: http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/people/interviews/10494-till-the-gharial-gets-the-support-of-the-chief-minister-i-dont-foresee-any-difficulty
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