Chambal gharials under threat; death continues

Bhind, MP, Feb 14 : Two more gharials -- a highly endangered crocodile species -- were found dead in the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh.

Taking into account the latest casualty figures, the number of gharials which have perished in the Chambal sanctuary within a small stretch falling in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh since December 26 has gone up to six, while 37 reptiles died last year in this state however, 76 were found dead at the Uttar Pradesh border.

Sanctuary Superintendent S C Bhadouriya said that the sanctuary stretched from Morena district's Pali area to Charaknagar area of Uttar Pradesh and about 1000 gharials found their abode.

''On December 26, a gharial's body was found in Gyanpura area and on January 11 three reptiles were found at Usedghat while two gharials perished yesterday,'' said Mr Bhoudariya.

After revelation of autopsy reports that most of the gharials died of some disease, a team of wildlife experts reached the sanctuary and started examining and counting the reptile.

Death of a large number of gharials in such a short span of time is a serious matter as more than 100 reptiles had died unnaturally last year in the Chambal river terrain and as a matter of fact, no cause of their deaths was detected yet.

The samples of dead gharials were sent to Jabalpur and Bareily (Uttar Pradesh) but no report arrived till date.