The population of the rare and endangered gharial crocodile is increasing in Chitwan’s two major rivers, the Rapti and the Narayani.
According to authorities, a total of 366 gharial crocodiles were directly sighted in both river systems. Of these, 231 were recorded in the Rapti River and 135 in the Narayani River. Last year, a total of 352 gharials were sighted in both rivers, including 206 in the Rapti and 146 in the Narayani.
This year’s monitoring also showed an increase in the number of male gharials. During the survey, nine male gharials were sighted, seven in the Rapti River and two in the Narayani River.
The monitoring was conducted to obtain updated information on the status of gharial crocodiles and their habitat in the river systems. The survey was conducted from December 7 to December 15, 2025, in the Rapti and Narayani rivers flowing through the Chitwan National Park area.
A Gharial Crocodile Breeding Centre has been operating at Kasara in Chitwan National Park since 1978, playing a significant role in gharial conservation. Every year, the centre collects gharial eggs from rivers, raises hatchlings, and releases them into the Rapti, Narayani, and other rivers across the country.
During the gharial crocodile census, a dolphin was also sighted in the Golaghat area, where the Rapti and Narayani rivers meet. Such dolphins are occasionally seen in the Narayani River. Conservationists consider the sighting of a dolphin a positive sign from a biodiversity perspective.
