IUCN Status: Reptiles | Environment for UPSC 2025 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

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IUCN STATUS OF REPTILES 
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IUCN STATUS OF REPTILES 
GHARIAL 
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IUCN STATUS OF REPTILES 
GHARIAL GHARIAL 
The Gharial is one of the three species of 
crocodilians only found in Indian subcontinent.  
(Mugger, Saltwater crocodiles and the Gharial) 
Gharials are endemic to the Indian sub-continent.   
Once found abundantly in all the major river 
systems of South Asia, the Gharial is now extinct in 
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Bhutan.  
Gharial is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in 
the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.  
 
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IUCN STATUS OF REPTILES 
GHARIAL GHARIAL 
The Gharial is one of the three species of 
crocodilians only found in Indian subcontinent.  
(Mugger, Saltwater crocodiles and the Gharial) 
Gharials are endemic to the Indian sub-continent.   
Once found abundantly in all the major river 
systems of South Asia, the Gharial is now extinct in 
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Bhutan.  
Gharial is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in 
the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.  
 
GHARIAL 
In India small populations are present and 
increasing in the rivers of the National Chambal 
Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Sone 
River Sanctuary and the rainforest biome of 
Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Orissa, 
where they apparently do not breed. 
 
Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi which is the 
southernmost limit of gharials home range in 
India. 
 
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IUCN STATUS OF REPTILES 
GHARIAL GHARIAL 
The Gharial is one of the three species of 
crocodilians only found in Indian subcontinent.  
(Mugger, Saltwater crocodiles and the Gharial) 
Gharials are endemic to the Indian sub-continent.   
Once found abundantly in all the major river 
systems of South Asia, the Gharial is now extinct in 
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Bhutan.  
Gharial is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in 
the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.  
 
GHARIAL 
In India small populations are present and 
increasing in the rivers of the National Chambal 
Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Sone 
River Sanctuary and the rainforest biome of 
Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Orissa, 
where they apparently do not breed. 
 
Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi which is the 
southernmost limit of gharials home range in 
India. 
 
GHARIAL 
In 1976, the population of Gharial had plummeted to 
less than 200 individuals.  
Getting alarmed, the Government of India subsequently 
accorded the highest level of protection to Gharial by 
bringing it under Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection 
Act, 1972. 
In 1976, Project Crocodile was initiated with support 
from the United Nations Development Programme and 
Food and Agriculture Organization.  
The project included an intensive captive rearing and 
breeding programme intended to restock depleted 
Gharial habitats.