If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the

If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?

Bhitarkanika Mangroves
Chambal River
Pulicat Lake
Deepor Beel
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2017
The Chambal River is the best place to visit to see gharials in their natural habitat.
– Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are critically endangered fish-eating crocodiles found in freshwater river systems in northern India.
– The National Chambal Sanctuary, which spans parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh along the Chambal River, holds the largest and most stable population of gharials in their natural habitat. Significant conservation efforts have been focused here.
– Bhitarkanika Mangroves in Odisha are famous for saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), not gharials.
– Pulicat Lake, located on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, is a large brackish water lagoon, known for migratory birds and is not a habitat for gharials.
– Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake and a wetland in Assam, primarily known for its avian fauna and aquatic life, but not gharials.
While small, scattered populations of gharials exist in other rivers like Girwa, Gandak, and Mahanadi (Satkosia gorge), the Chambal River remains the stronghold and the most reliable location to observe gharials in the wild.
Exit mobile version