Gharial Crocodiles

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22390592

English Transcription.

This is a crocodile breeding center in Chitwan National Park in central Nepal.

The crocodiles behind me they are called as Gharial crocodile, they live only in rivers, in fresh water and they eat only fish . These are among the most critically endangered animals in the world.

That’s why this center was set up to increase the population of Gharial crocodiles in the wild.

In the last few years hundreds of crocodiles have been released into the wild thanks to this center.

These crocodiles are disappearing fast because of the variety of reasons.First of all lost of natural habitat.

Many rivers are drying up, also they are getting polluted and these crocodiles they are not getting enough fish to eat and damps have been built across the rivers in Nepal, India also in the downstream.

That‘s why these animals are disappearing fast.

There has been a special initiative to increase the number of crocodiles in the wild, there are about 80 or so crocodiles in the wild here in Chitwan National Park.

The researchers and staff members they collect the eggs of crocodiles from sand banks from the nearby rivers and they bring them here, keep them under the similar natural conditions and then they take care of the young crocodiles and when they  reach adult stage for about six or seven  years

Then, they take them back into the wild and release them into the river. They also breed the crocodiles hearby melting male and female crocodiles here in enclosures like this one. Because they are very important to the ecosystem here in this region,the researchers and the staff members they are taking so much care in protecting these animals. If these crocodiles disappear it will cost immense damage to the ecosystem of this region.