https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Sees Steady Rise in Gharial Numbers: Artificial Breeding, Hatchery Add to the Success

In the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) in Uttar Pradesh, the Gharial population has been increasing steadily. The roadmap for Gharial conservation prepared by the forest department under the leadership of 2016-batch IFS officer Akash Deep Badhawan has been a success. Natural breeding and external augmentation have increased the population and nest counts from 14 and 5 in 1975 to 70+ and 36 in 2020, respectively.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) has been taking a slew of initiatives to conserve the Gharial, one of the three species of Indian crocodiles. Breeding pads and hatchery have been made and a Gharial Conservation and Research Center is also being built.

The results are already showing as the critically endangered Gharial’s count has been increasing in this Uttar Pradesh wildlife sanctuary, situated in the Terai region of the Bahraich district. And, all because of a roadmap prepared under the leadership of 2016-batch IFS officer Akash Deep Badhawan. Right now, there are more than 360 gharials in the region.

Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Badhawan, who is the DFO of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), to know more about the roadmap to increase Gharials.

2016-batch IFS officer Akash Deep Badhawan

ARTIFICIAL BREEDING ALSO

Gharial is a highly vulnerable species, but is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. So, increasing their population is must, said Mr. Badhawan. Katarniaghat is one of the four places which were selected right in the beginning for Project Gharial, when it was started in 1975, such was the importance of Katarniaghat in terms of the Gharial population.

KWS has a wild breeding, resident Gharial population. Of late, for their conservation, artificial breeding pads are being made. Mr. Badhawan said, “In order to increase the population of Gharial, we help those eggs which do not hatch through these breeding pads. For this, we have also made a hatchery. And when the Gharial grows up a bit and we feel that they are fit for release, we release them into the water.”

IFS officer Badhawan keeping an eye on Gharial releasing into water

HATCHERY FOR THE UNFIT

As for those not fit to be released, they are kept in the special hatcheries. “Some are disabled or have some other problems.So we keep them in our hatchery only. Some researchers are there in the hatchery who do research while taking care of the Gharials,and make modified changes to increase their longevity,” the officer said.

GHARIAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMME

These field researchers are part of the Gharial Conservation Programme (GCP) who are working to study the isolated and wild breeding Gharial population in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby aquatic habitats.

Mr. Badhawan said, “The programme aims to identify the potential Gharial habitats and associated threats, and work with the stakeholders, to establish a long-term Gharial monitoring and conservation plan. This initiative aims to bring different stakeholders together and fill the gap of communication which is often found between the researchers and the implementing agencies. Landscape biodiversity plans are only successful with participation of all the key stakeholders.”

Releasing the Gharial into water

This initiative will enhance data sharing and networking, reduce resource expenses, and ensure equal participation of each stakeholder. At the same time, it is a wider vision of river conservation in Uttar Pradesh Gharial Conservation Programme embarking on its first landscape river conservation initiative.

“If done with a collective responsibility, we can establish Uttar Pradesh Forest department and all conservation stakeholders as leaders in river ecology management. We can showcase our work to other world bodies, like our innovation, community engagement and support programmes, etc.,” Mr. Badhawan said.

MORE ABOUT THE INDIAN GHARIAL

There are three species of Indian crocodiles, the Gharial, Magar and Saltwater crocodile. This was the reason that from 1975, the National Crocodile Conservation Project was started.

Mr. Badhawan releasing Gharial into water

KWS was designated as the 4th gharial (Gavialis Gangeticus) sanctuary under Project Crocodile. KWS has a wild breeding, resident Gharial population. The population is isolated to a 20 km stretch of Gerua and Kaudiyala Rivers. The isolation of this population resulted from construction of Girijapuri barrage in 1976 at the junction of Gerua and Kaudiyala rivers.

KWS gharial population was one of the source populations for collection of Gharial eggs during captive rear and release programme, which began in 1975. Natural breeding and external augmentation have increased the population and nest counts from 14 and 5 in 1975 to 70+ and 36 in 2020, respectively.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT