Gharial

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a large, fish-eating crocodilian native to the river systems of the Indian subcontinent. Its long, slender snout, lined with interlocking teeth, is precisely adapted for catching fish underwater, and adult males develop a distinctive bulbous growth at the tip of the snout, called a ghara, which is used in vocalizations and courtship displays. Gharials are among the longest crocodilians in the world, with large males reaching up to 6 meters in length.

Once distributed across the major river systems of South Asia, the gharial is now restricted to a small number of rivers in northern India and Nepal, with the Chambal, Girwa, and Rapti rivers holding the most significant remaining populations. The IUCN Red List classifies the species as Critically Endangered, with the wild population estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature individuals. Gharials play a specific ecological role as apex aquatic predators that help regulate fish populations and, as large reptiles, contribute nutrients to riverbank soils through nesting activity. The primary threats driving their decline include river habitat degradation, sand mining, fishing net entanglement, reduced river flow from irrigation withdrawals, and the historical collection of eggs and adults.