Indus Valley Times

By Satchidananda Behera

Bhubaneswar, April 17: In a significant stride for wildlife conservation, seven adult gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) were released into the Mahanadi River gorge at Satkosia in Odisha on Wednesday, a government official said on Thursday. The release, part of the state’s ongoing Gharial Recovery Programme, took place at Sunakhani Ghat in the presence of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

Of the seven reptiles, five were translocated from the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, while two originated from the Tikarpada-based Gharial Research and Conservation Unit (GRACU) in Satkosia. The group comprises five females and two males.

According to Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha, this initiative is a continuation of the department’s efforts to reintroduce and monitor gharials in the 21-kilometre stretch of the Mahanadi gorge within the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Future plans include the release of more radio-tagged individuals, enabling conservationists to track their movement and study their adaptation to natural environments.

Between 2019 and 2022, 19 gharials were released into the wild in five phases, with the most recent release occurring in February 2022.

Satkosia remains Odisha’s only natural breeding habitat for gharials. A 2023 survey recorded seven naturally bred and four radio-collared individuals in the area. As of 2024, the population in the gorge has grown to 16, reflecting a gradual but encouraging rise.

Officials emphasize that sustained releases, coupled with radio telemetry and habitat protection, are crucial for securing the species’ future in the wild.