160 Wild Hatchlings! Nandankanan Revives Gharial Population After 40 Years
Nandankanan Zoological Park has emerged as a leading centre for crocodilian conservation in India, housing a total of 272 individuals across seven species.
The park’s impressive collection includes 54 Mugger Crocodiles, 169 Gharials, 25 Saltwater Crocodiles, 2 Morelet’s Crocodiles, 14 Siamese Crocodiles, 5 Cuvier’s Dwarf Caimans, and 3 Nile Crocodiles.
While the park maintains strong populations across multiple species, the spotlight is currently on its groundbreaking efforts to save the Critically Endangered Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).In 2019, Nandankanan launched the ambitious “Species Recovery of Gharial in River Mahanadi” project to bolster the long-running gharial reintroduction programme. Since its inception, the park has released 32 GPS and VHF-tagged gharials (12 males and 20 females) into the River Mahanadi to help rebuild the wild population.
The programme goes beyond mere releases, incorporating comprehensive habitat assessment, active stakeholder participation, rigorous post-release monitoring, and widespread public outreach. Community-based conservation initiatives have been central to its success, including the establishment of a 10-km no-fishing zone, compensation for fishing net losses, incentives for the return of accidentally captured gharials, and the impactful “KumbhiraBandhu” awareness campaign.
These sustained efforts have yielded remarkable results. Natural breeding of gharials has been revived in the River Mahanadi after nearly four decades. Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 160 hatchlings were recorded within the protected no-fishing zones. In a significant development this year, a previously released gharial successfully laid eggs at Satkosia Gorge, producing 19 hatchlings.
Complementing the wild success, Nandankanan has recorded excellent breeding results within its captive facilities. In 2025, three nests produced 14 hatchlings, while in 2026, eight nests yielded an impressive 76 hatchlings.“These achievements highlight the effectiveness of Nandankanan’s integrated approach — combining robust captive management, scientific reintroduction, and community engagement,” said a park official.
With its dual success in both captive breeding and wild population recovery, Nandankanan Zoological Park is setting a benchmark for crocodilian conservation in India and offering renewed hope for the survival of the ancient and iconic gharial.
