The Chambal River in India is the last refuge for the critically endangered Gharial crocodile species, as their population has declined from an estimated 8,000-10,000 in the 1940s to just 1,870 in 2019. The Chambal Sanctuary was established in 1978 to protect the remaining Gharial population and is now home to over 70-75% of remaining Gharials. Conservation efforts including protection from hunting, rearing eggs in captivity, and reintroducing hatchlings to the river appear to be helping as the Gharial population in the sanctuary has increased from 905 in 2012 to 1,869 in 2019.

1. CHAMBAL AND
GHARIALS
~ JERRY JAMES

2. A PICTURE IS WORTH A
THOUSAND WORDS
A complex idea can be
conveyed with just a single
still image, namely making it
possible to absorb large
amounts of data quickly.
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3. WHAT ARE GHARIALS?
▫ Long snout having a bulbous knob at the end
▫ Sexually Dimorphic
▫ Rows of uniform teeths with muscular necks
Unlike their counterparts, mostly live in water and hunt
mostly fish and other water creatures.
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4. 1,870
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES (2019)
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5. CHAMBAL
THE LAST HOPE OF GHARIALS

6. 8000-10,000
BEFORE 1940’S
70-75%
CHAMBAL’S SHARE
90%
INDIA’S SHARE
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7. Chambal is the cleanest
perennial river, a tributary of
Yamuna originating at
Janapav(Mhow)
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8. CHAMBAL RIVER
THE LAST HOPE FOR GHARIALS

9. 2.
EXTRA RESOURCES
For Business Plans, Marketing Plans,
Project Proposals, Lessons, etc
THE CHAMBAL FORMING A GORGE NEAR KOTA

10. WANT BIG IMPACT?
USE BIG IMAGE.
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11. TIME TO THINK
There are so many places in the world, so why Chambal
????
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13. HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Mostly prefer deep fast flowing freshwater. They are not
well suited for land. They come out to bask in the sun or
to nest.
They are only found in waters of India and Nepal. In India
it is found in Chambal, Girwa (Uttar Pradesh), Ramganga
(Uttrakhand), Gandak (Bihar), Mahanadi (Orissa)
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14. GHARIAL PHYLOGENY
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CROCODILIA
GAVIALIDAE CROCODYLIDAE
OSTEOLAEMUS
CROCODYLUS
TOMISTOMA
GAVIALIS

15. HELLO!
A typical Gharial reaches 12-15 feets weighing upto
2000 pounds. Regulate body temperature by
basking in the sun or dipping in water
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16. IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS
OFFSPRINGS
Females lays eggs on
sandbanks along slow
water. Seven days
incubations. Stay with
mother for several
weeks.
HUNTING
Pretty shy, no
humans. Snout
contains sensory cells
that vibrate helping
them to zero on fish
by whipping it side by
side.
EXTINCTION
Under “Critically
Endangered”
category by IUCN red
list. Also are
Evolutionary Distinct
and Globally
Endangered (EDGE)
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17. Chambal is the cleanest
perennial river, a tributary of
Yamuna originating at
Janapav(Mhow)
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18. CONSERVATION ISSUES
WATER BLOCKAGE
Dams, Barrages adversely affect
their habitat into unsuitable
lakes.
PHYSICAL
Due to long snout and thick
teeths, stuck in fishing nets and
eventually drown.
HABITAT
DISTURBANCE
Removal of sand and mining
hugely disturbs their habitat
hence deserting them.
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NO FOODS
Increase in Fish hunting, main
source of food. Less fish left.
HUNTING
Their snouts and body bore huge
value in black market, hunting
for recreation, medicinal value or
decoration
NEST DISTURBANCE
Nests not identified are
destroyed, Some people collect
eggs which increases eggs
mortality and also are hunted by
nature predators.

19. CONSERVATION PYRAMID
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REARING
It involves rearing more and more
gharial eggs in a protected and safe
environment away from harm..
RELEASE
After rearing of eggs these are
introduced to their habitat where
they are closely monitored and fed
according to diet.
REHABILITATION
The adult gharials are fed with proper
health and are monitored to sustain
more eggs for future growth

20. CONSERVATION ROADMAP
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Full protection from
hunting from 1970’s
Various National and
International NGO’s are
working selflessly
Formed various
conservation grounds to
breed and live freely.
Gharial ecology project
has been set up to protect
these species.
India and Nepal launched
REAR AND RELEASE
programmes
Introduced BIO
LOGGING to study and
learn more

21. NATIONAL CHAMBAL
SANCTUARY
World’s only hope to save
GHARIALS!!!

22. FORMATION
Protected under Wildlife
Protection Act 1972 and was
formed on September 1978.
Located near Morena in
Madhya Pradesh, 5,400 sq.
km. protected area.
NATIONAL CHAMBAL GHARIAL SANCTUARY
MANAGEMENT
Various conservation
initiatives have been taken
along with international and
national government co-
operation.
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23. 2.
EXTRA RESOURCES
For Business Plans, Marketing Plans,
Project Proposals, Lessons, etc

24. CONSERVATION REPORT
More than 5,000 were
born in the sanctuary
(June - July 2019).
Under the
cooperation of the
state trifecta of MP,
UP and RJ.
The number of
population was 905
in 2012 and now
increased to 1,869 in
2019.
Poaching and illegal
sand mining from the
sanctuary reduced to
little or zero.
Constant vigil on the
breeding nests.
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26. THANKS!
Any questions?
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