Several gharial breeding and rehabilitation centres came up across India. The most prominent ones are the National Chambal Sanctuary and the Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Center in Uttar Pradesh.  Photographs by Vikas Choudhary/CSE
Wildlife & Biodiversity

Indian gharial is critically endangered — ever wondered how many of them are left?

To address the root cause of the gharial's declining population, it is essential to tackle river pollution, particularly in the rivers where gharials were once abundant

Vikas Choudhary

Once widespread across major river basins such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi, the Indian gharial has been marred by a significant decline in population.

Its population is estimated to have declined from 5,000–10,000 in 1946 to fewer than 250 individuals in 2006, a decline of 96–98 per cent within three generations.

At present, there are only 800 gharials left across the world.

To address the root cause of the gharial's declining population, it is essential to tackle river pollution, particularly in the rivers where gharials were once abundant.

This sharp drop in population is largely due to human activities. Reports suggest that the primary factors behind the gharial's decline are habitat loss and the degradation of rivers.

River conservation efforts have focused on controlling sand mining and, perhaps most importantly, regulating developmental activities along riverbanks. These measures aim to restore and protect the gharials' natural habitat, ensuring their survival.

As human populations grew, riverbanks were increasingly used for agriculture and settlements, leading to the encroachment of the gharials' natural habitats.