Beyond Guns & Gore: Chambal sanctuary sees sharpest rise in gharial count

Time of India

11 hours ago

A successful breeding programme, effective habitat protection measures and minimum human intervention has seen the sharpest rise in the gharials' number in the UP side of National Chambal Sanctuary.
Guns and gore are passé. Gharials are the latest newsmakers from Chambal. The National Chambal Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh has seen the sharpest jump in the number of Gharials this year — from 1,880 in 2024 to 2,026 in 2025 — since 1975 when the conservation of crocodiles started in India.
Wildlife warden of National Chambal Sanctuary, KC Shekhar, says, 'Notably, the gharial count of 2,026 includes both juveniles and adults.
This counting is done when they come to sun-bathe on the sand beaches during winter. It's not neces-sary that all gharials come out to sunbathe at the same time. Some remain in the water which makes it difficult to count them, so the actual number might be higher.'
Chandni Singh, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of the sanctuary, says the development bucks the global trend. 'The Chambal river's pristine ecosystem has shown encouraging growth in populations of two native crocodile species — gharials (Gavialis Gangeticus) and muggers (Crocodylus Palustris),' she says, adding 'these achievements stem from dedicated conservation work by forest staff, wildlife organisations, and local communities.
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Secretary general of National Chambal Sanctuary, Rajeev Chauhan, also supported the official figures and said that the number could increase if advanced methods were used for counting. 'The increase signifies that UP has become a pioneering state in conservation. This shows that Chambal is not polluted as these reptiles prefer fresh water.'
The Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a distinctive species, traditionally inhabited Indian rivers in large numbers.
Its population decline resulted in its inclusion on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for the past several decades. The govt of India also launched the Crocodile Conservation project across the country on June 17, 1975. The National Chambal Sanctuary expanding across three states was declared a national sanctuary in 1979.
The total area of the sanctuary is approximately 5400 sq km out of which the UP side covering Etawah, Agra and Auraiya dists is about 635 sq km.
In UP, it starts from Taasond village located in Agra dist on UP-Rajasthan border to Pachnada, located on the border of Etawah and Jalaun dists, the area infamous for bandits in the past. The 2025 numbers — 2,024 — are only for the UP side of the sanctuary. While these creatures survive only in select rivers, Chambal has come up as a haven.
A limited number of gharials are found in the Ganga as well. In 1975, when the conservation project started, the number of gharials in the sanctuary was just 200.
Since then, the number has gone up steadily, but 2008 saw a grave crisis when 112 reptiles perished and the conservation project came under heavy scrutiny, says Dr Rajeev Chauhan, the secretary general of the Society for Conservation of Nature.
KC Raj Shekhar, the wildlife warden of the sanctuary says that the rise of 146 in gharials' number is sharpest since 1975. 'If we look at the data, the count would only increase or decrease by 8 to 10, but this year's count of 146 is remarkable, and everyone is excited.'
DFO Chandni Singh confirmed that joint survey results motivated the forest department, validating their staff's efforts. The surveys also revealed an increase in muggers' populations in the Chambal to 869, up from 742 last year.
Previous counts showed 608 in 2023, 594 in 2022, and 586 in 2021.
The success story of crocodile conservation in the Chambal River ecosystem demonstrates the effectiveness of long-term preservation efforts.
Gharial's distinctive long, narrow snout and mugger's broader jaw structure represent different evolutionary adaptations to their riverine habitat. Gharials primarily feed on fish, while muggers have a more varied diet including fish, reptiles, and small mammals.
This dietary distinction has helped both species coexist in the Chambal's waters without significant competition. Local communities along the river have played a crucial role in this conservation success.
They serve as wildlife guardians, reporting illegal activities and protecting nesting sites. The forest department has established a network of monitoring stations along the river, where staff regularly patrol and document crocodile behaviour and population dynamics.
'The sanctuary's success also stems from its strict regulations against sand mining, fishing, and other human activities that could disturb the crocodiles' habitat.
Regular monitoring of water quality and maintaining adequate water levels have ensured suitable conditions for breeding and survival,' says a conservationist.Conservation efforts include protecting nesting sites during breeding season, which occurs between March and May.
Forest staff carefully monitor these sites to prevent egg collection and predation. The department has also implemented awareness programmes in villages along the river, educating locals about the importance of these species to the ecosystem.
The increase in numbers also reflects successful breeding programmes and habitat protection measures. Young gharials and muggers now have better survival rates due to reduced human interference and improved riverside vegetation cover. The sanctuary's approach combines scientific monitoring with traditional ecological knowledge, creating an effective conservation model. These positive results have encouraged neighbouring states to adopt similar conservation strategies.
The success in Chambal demonstrates that with dedicated effort and community participation, endangered species can recover and thrive in their natural habitats.