Nesting place washed away at MP's Gharial Sanctuary

Morena, MP, May 31 (UNI) Water released sans warning from Rajasthan's Kota Barrage into the Chambal river has washed away gharials' nesting place at the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary and further endangered the reptile which is on the brink of extinction.

Nesting of gharials is underway at an island in the Chambal and on sand along the riverbank where reptiles lay eggs and hatch them.

Aquatic life experts at a centre in Deori village are supervising the bringing of eggs, their hatching by placing them in optimum temperature, taking care of the hatchlings and later releasing them into the river or sending to other sanctuaries or centres in India.

Despite that, eggs remain buried in the sand and the water washes them away.

The Sanctuary is on a 433-km stretch of the river and includes parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. However, its principal centre is Deori and that makes this state a gharial 'citadel'.

''The deep and pollutionless river is a favourite haunt for gharials,'' said aquatic life expert R K Sharma. In February, a survey revealed an increase in the Chambal's gharial population compared to last year. Even tortoises, crocodiles, otters and dolphins are also nurtured here. These creatures are also facing a threat from the sand mafia.

UNI