Rescuing Gharials in Mahanadi River

Odisha introduced a award of Rs. 1,000 to preserve gharials in Mahanadi River Basin. Gharials, now and again called gavials, are a kind of Asian crocodilian individual by their long, skinny snouts. Crocodilians are a team of reptiles that consists of crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more.

Highlights:

India has three species of Crocodilians namely:

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): IUCN Red List- Critically Endangered
Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris): IUCN- Vulnerable.
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): IUCN- Least Concern.

All the three are listed on Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Exception: Saltwater Crocodile populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are included in Appendix II of CITES.