Punjab releases 23 captive-bred gharials in Beas reserve
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Project comes after success of the primary part of rehabilitating critically endangered species
Buoyed by the success of the primary part of rehabilitating critically endangered gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) in the rivers of Punjab, the State Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation on Friday launched 23 captive-bred gharials in the Beas conservation reserve.
Earlier, in 2017-18, through the first part of ‘Gharial Reintroduction Project’ as many as 47 gharials had been launched in the Beas conservation reserve in batches in (*23*) and Tarn Taran districts.
Hoshiarpur’s Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Gursharan Singh mentioned 23 captive-bred gharials introduced from Morena in Madhya Pradesh had been launched in the Beas conservation reserve. “A joint team of the wildlife division and WWF-India has been formed for the daily monitoring for next one month,” he mentioned.
An acceptable stretch of river Beas close to Salimpur and Tahli forest in Hoshiarpur district has been chosen for the reintroduction of the present batch.
Geetanjali Kanwar, coordinator – Rivers, Wetlands and Water Policy, World Wildlife Fund-India, advised The Puucho that publish launch monitoring was one of many very important facets of the gharial reintroduction. “The surveys will focus on understanding dispersal, habitat preference, population ecology and general wellbeing of the released species,” she mentioned.
The bold scheme of the Punjab authorities aspires to ascertain a breeding inhabitants of those critically endangered gharials in the rivers of Punjab.
“In the first phase of this project, 47 juvenile gharials were released in the Beas conservation reserve in batches during year 2017-2018 in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. Field surveys conducted, so far, jointly with WWF-India indicate that gharials have dispersed both upstream and downstream of the release sites in the reserve. About 40%-50% of the reintroduced gharials can be spotted in the reserve any time depending on the water levels and season of survey,” mentioned Ms. Kanwar.
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