Gharial

Facts

IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)

Facts about this animal

The snout of the Gharial is extremely long and slender, abruptly narrowed against the brain part of the skull (in contrast to the false gavial, Tomistoma schlegelii), about 3.5 to 6 times as long as broad at the level of the front corners of the yes. There are no elevated structures in front of the eyes. The colour of the upper body surface in adults is almost greyish black, juveniles are more or less dark olive, speckled with black and with black crossbands. The lower surface is uniformly light, without dark blotches. The iris is greenish. It can potentially grow up to 7.2 m, but is usually about 4.5 m.

Did you know?
that the gharial is considered to be one of the most critically threatened of all crocodilians, becoming alarmingly close to extinction in the 1970s? Fortunately, there has been some recovery through conservation programmes, and a reasonable amount of hope lies with the conservation and management programmes, which are now in place.

Factsheet
Class	REPTILIA
Order	CROCODYLIA
Suborder	EUSUCHIA
Family	CROCODYLIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Gavialis gangeticus
Name (English)	Gharial
Name (French)	Gavial du Gange
Name (German)	Ganges-Gavial
Name (Spanish)	Gavial del Ganges
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Appendix I

Photo Copyright by
Justin Griffiths

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Bangladesh , Bhutan (?) , India , Myanmar (ex) , Nepal , Pakistan
Habitat	Rivers
Wild population	Approx. 2'500-3'500. It last hideaways are heavily threatened through human influence and are dwindling.
Zoo population	32 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 42 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Justin Griffiths

Why do zoos keep this animal

The keeping and breeding of Gavialis gangeticus coordinated by an international conservation breeding program is of great importance. Nevertheless it is still only rarely exhibited in zoos.

How this animal should be kept

This very large crocodilian, which feeds exclusively on fish, needs very spacious enclosures with a sufficiently deep pool. It is suitable for mixed species exhibits with other animals of its habitat. The surrounding fence or moat needs to be strong and have substantial foundations as crocodilians are very good at digging. In temperate or colder climatic zones keeping outdoors may, however, be possible at best during the summer period.

Mostly, the animals will have to be kept in indoor facilities where the following minimum standards should apply:For a pair of adults an enclosure with no less than 15 m² land and 20 m² water surface is required, for each additional adult both, land and water part, are to be enlarged by 5 m². Average water depth 120 cm. The landpart should be structured e.g. by logs, the floor should be covered with sand or gravel. Floor temperature locally 35ºC (floor heating), air temperature 24-30ºC, water temperature 24-26ºC. Humidity 60-80 %. Light phase 12-14 h per day, HQI lamps. Daily ultraviolet irradiation.