Gharial conservation efforts in Odisha
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Environment
- Published
15th Jun, 2021
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Context
The Mahanandi Wildlife Division in Odisha announced rewards for rescuing gharials, a critically endangered crocodile species.
- It is an effort of state government to conserve gharials in Mahanadi river basin.
About Gharial
- Characteristics: Gharials are large and shy reptiles.
- Gharials thrive on small fish.
- Their prey base was eroding due to over-fishing by local fisherfolk.
- Gharial prefers deep fast flowing rivers.
- Sand and rock outcrops are preferred basking sites and these animals show considerable site fidelity.
- Conservation: It is listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and as Critically Endangered on IUCN Red list.
- Threats: Their habitat is threatened because of human encroachment and fishing activities.
- They are genetically weaker than salt water crocodiles and muggers.
- Gharials caught accidentally in fishing nets.
Mahanadi River
- The Mahanadi is a major river in East Central India.
- Mahanadi was called the sorrow of odisha but the Hirakud Dam has changed the situation of flood.
- The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Tributaries
- Left:Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo
- Right: Ong, parry, Jonk, Telen
Mahanadi Wildlife Division
- It was created in 1999 by the Government of Orissa.
- The whole division is a part of Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
- Fauna:Tiger, Leopard, Striped hyena, Wild dog, Indian Wolf, Sloth bear, Sambar, Civet Cat, Fishing cat, Leopard cat, Chousingha, Flying Squirrel, Wild boar, Gaur migratory population of Elephants, Gharial and Mugger crocodile in the Mahanadi River, hornbills, Hill mynas, Brahamany ducks and different varieties of both resident and migratory birds.
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