#386 - Gharials of Chambal
by Miroslav Bobek & Jana Ptačinská Jirátová and illustrated by Jan Dungel
“Gharials of Chambal” by Miroslav Bobek & Jana Ptačinská Jirátová and illustrated by Jan Dungel. Translated from the Czech (I guess) by Jana Hajduchová. Published by Prague Zoo. A little booklet about the Gharials and why there is an urgent need to protect them.
The Gharial is one of the most bizarre and rarest animals of our planet. The protuberance on the tip of the snout of the males looks like an earthen pot which is called ‘ghara’ in Hindi. The Gharial gets its name after this. They are endangered due to increasing presence of humans in the vicinity of their natural habitat leading to intensive exploitation of the landscape.
Extensive fishing and sand mining have left the Gharials high and dry. Where will they go if their home and food is taken away? Where can they lay their eggs? Local people will need to be educated about the importance of Gharials and the need to protect them. The book is very simple but the message is extremely powerful.
The Prague Zoo is the only zoo within the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) which houses Gharials. It owns one of the most prospective groups in captivity outside of India which is very valuable for creating a backup population of Gharials in zoos. The group came from Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology as a token of appreciation for the zoo’s active role in the attempt to reverse the extinction of this unique species.
The zoo has co-operated with the Trust in developing and implementing conservation actions to combat the threats faced by Gharials on the Chambal river and in the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary on the Girwa river. The actions undertaken include supporting researchers and wildlife managers with equipment and funds, monitoring the wild Gharial population and supporting surveys. Due to all these efforts, there are positive signs of increased hatching success in recent years.
I bought this book four years ago while on a trip to Madras Crocodile Bank Trust on the outskirts of Chennai. My (then) five year old loved the book and found it very interesting. He now wants to see a Gharial in the wild some day. The topic has been made highly accessible by keeping the price extremely low and language very simple. Hopefully the message is spread widely and the Gharials live in harmony with the local people of Chambal region.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 5 and above.
Reasons to Read
To know more about the Gharials and the need for their conservation.