By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Low survival rate of Gharial hatchlings in Gharial Research and Conservation Unit at Tikarpada under Satkosia Wildlife Division in Angul district has worried nature lovers as well as environmentalists in Odisha. Sources said that the survival rate has declined to as low as ten percent. The major threat is floods in river Mahanadi, the largest in Odisha, in the monsoon. The hatchlings are mostly swept away by floods during rainy season. Gharial hatchlings are often get stuck in fishing nets used by fishermen communities living on the banks of river Mahanadi. In addition to this threat, growing number of Muggers in Mahanadi all along the seven-mile stretch of Satkosia gorge, has also jeopardized the survival chances of Gharial hatchlings. Muggers are known to be predators of Gharial hatchlings.
The Gharial Research and Conservation Unit has been facing management difficulties ever since it was established at Tikarpada in 1975. It has always been a difficult task for the wildlife staff to take adequate measures for the conservation of Gharial hatchlings. The unit was almost in limbo for years due to inadequate allotment of funds. However, conservation efforts are on a full swing since 2020 and results are showing, but a lot more has to be done to increase the survival rate of the hatchlings. The Angul wildlife division has been trying its best to improve breeding of the rare species of crocodile family by bringing male and female Gharials to the conservation unit at Tikarpada from Nandankanal Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Although over 150 hatchlings have been released to Mahanadi in the past five years, there is no definite data how much of them actually survived in the process. Reports said in May 2025, nearly 29 Gharials babies came out of their eggs at a nesting site called Baladamara, near Satkosia gorge. But, the distressing news is that nearly half of the haltchlings were carried away by gushing water as Mahanadi was in spate following pre-monsoon showers in the state in that month.
Habitat In Danger:
Contamination of Mahanadi river water and fishing activities are directly responsible for the decline in number of Gharials, social activists working in Satkosia region said and added that this has impacted on the ecosystem of the gorge. Although the wildlife division has put a ban on fishing in the gorge, this has not been strictly effective due to a number of reasons. The wildlife staff are not adequately equipped to handle illegal fishing activities in Satkosia gorge. As the Gharials do not get enough fish as their food, they die early, the social activists said. Irregular awareness campaigns for promotion of the endangered species have also adversely affected Gharial breeding. Earlier, the wildlife division was conducting community awareness programmes involving people from Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, Nayagarh and Sonepur districts to bring down tussle between Gharial and humans. Although eco-tourism has been widely acclaimed as one of the best funding strategies for arranging resources for conservation, sustainable management could reduce disturbances in natural habitats. But, it is alleged that the nature camp at Tikarpada is poorly managed and plays a role in disturbing the natural habitat for Gharials.
A comprehensive plan of action has to be initiated for relocation of Muggers from Satkosia Gorge to increase the survival rate of Gharials which are endangered species. The wildlife division must adopt state of the art technology to constantly track and monitor the movement of Gharials through GPS system. Services of wildlife experts should be roped in for studies relating to Satkosia ecology and availbality of fish, the staple food of Gharials. It is high time that predators like Muggers in Satkosia gorge must be identified and relocated elsewhere to increase the chances of survival of Gharials. Community engagement has been paying rich dividends in habitat conservation throughout the world. Therefore, the wildlife officials should spearhead a movement that will attract like minded persons to come under a banner for taking awareness drive to next level.
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