Textbook Solutions: Saving The Gharial | Gul Mohar Class 8: Book Solutions, Summaries & Worksheets PDF Download

Before You Read

The Bengal Tiger is endangered, which means its population is very low, and it can become extinct.
Write one reason for the rapid decline in their population.
Ans: One major reason for the decline of the Bengal Tiger’s population is hunting and poaching. Tigers are hunted for their skin, bones, and other body parts, which are in high demand for traditional medicine and luxury items. Additionally, the destruction of forests due to urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation reduces their natural habitat, further threatening their survival. This combination of human activities endangers the tigers and accelerates their extinction.

While Reading

Q1. Why do Whitaker and his team feel 'instantly revived'?
Ans: Whitaker and his team feel 'instantly revived' when they see a mother gharial carefully guarding her eggs. This sight brings them hope and new energy because it signifies that the gharials are still breeding, despite the challenges they face. It is a moment of reassurance that the conservation efforts are not in vain, and the species has the potential to recover if protected from external threats.

Q2. The writer has used words like attentive and tenderly to show …
Ans: The writer uses words like attentive and tenderly to show that gharial mothers are gentle, caring, and devoted to their offspring. These words emphasize the maternal instincts of the gharials, portraying them as loving protectors of their young, despite the harsh conditions they live in. This contrasts with the harsh environment around them and reinforces the tenderness that exists even in nature's most dangerous creatures.

Q3. Read the first sentence of para 12. Tell your partner what the writer is trying to tell us.
Ans: The writer explains that gharials, which once lived widely in deep northern rivers, have now seen their habitat dramatically reduced. This suggests that the species has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to environmental changes and human activity. The loss of their natural habitat is a crucial factor in the decline of gharial numbers, and this reduction in their range highlights the urgency of conservation efforts.

Q4. The natural phenomena that spoil the conservation efforts were:
Ans: The natural phenomena that hinder conservation efforts include monsoon floods, which wash away gharial nests and disrupt their breeding cycles. Additionally, torrents and riverbank erosion erode their natural habitat, making it increasingly difficult for gharials to survive and reproduce. These uncontrollable events present a constant challenge to efforts aimed at protecting and preserving the gharial population, which relies on stable environments to thrive.

Q5. Why has the writer said that the gharial is the 'finest example of a healthy river'?
Ans: The gharial is considered the 'finest example of a healthy river' because it can only live in clean, deep, and fish-rich rivers. Its presence in a river ecosystem indicates that the water is pure and abundant with natural resources, which is essential for the gharial's survival. Therefore, the health of the gharial is directly linked to the health of its environment, making it a symbol of a thriving, balanced river ecosystem.

Understanding the Text

A. Complete these sentences with information found in the text. 

1. The gharial looks different from other crocodiles in having ....................................snout and.......... jaws. (para 5) 
2. Male gharials grow, at the end of the snout, ......................through which they produce ............................................... (para 5) 
3. The male gharial also uses the snout to produce .......................... . (para 6) 
4. Unlike other female crocodiles which have to carry ....................... from the nest to the water, a female gharial just puts her babies outside the nest and moves towards the river. The babies ............................................... (paras 9 and 10) 
5. Unlike other crocodiles which live in ......................., gharials live ......................... in eating only ............................................... (para 12)
Ans: 1. The gharial looks different from other crocodiles in having a long narrow snout and slim jaws. (para 5)
2. Male gharials grow, at the end of the snout, a bulbous ‘ghara’ through which they produce a buzz-snort sound. (para 5)
3. The male gharial also uses the snout to produce an underwater territorial jaw-clap. (para 6)
4. Unlike other female crocodiles which have to carry their babies from the nest to the water, a female gharial just puts her babies outside the nest and moves towards the river. The babies follow her like ducklings. (paras 9 and 10)
5. Unlike other crocodiles which live in ponds or lakes, gharials live in rivers eating only fish. (para 12)

B. Answer these questions.

Q1. We were hoping to rear her young safely in captivity and then release them—What kind of threats pose danger to gharial hatchlings?
Ans: Gharial hatchlings face many threats from predators such as jackals, hyenas, mongooses, and even birds. Additionally, floods pose a significant risk, as the young can be washed away by torrents. Human interference, such as fishing and habitat destruction, also threatens their survival. These dangers make it difficult for the hatchlings to survive in the wild, which is why captive breeding programs are essential for their survival.

Q2. What does the behaviour of the male gharial near Rajghat tell us about gharials?
Ans: The male gharial’s aggressive and territorial behavior near Rajghat shows that gharials are highly protective of their domain. The gharial uses physical displays like jaw-claps and specific sounds to warn rivals and establish dominance over a particular area. This behavior is typical of species that have defined territories and must defend them to ensure access to food and mating opportunities. It reflects the gharial’s instincts for survival and reproduction.

Q3. Did Whitaker and his team succeed in breeding a large number of gharials in captivity? Was their project a success or a failure? What made it so?
Ans: Whitaker and his team were successful in breeding thousands of gharials in captivity. However, many of these gharials died after being released back into the wild due to fishing nets, floods, and shrinking rivers. While the breeding program was partially successful in increasing the gharial population, its impact was limited because the habitat conditions were not conducive to survival. This shows the complexity of conservation efforts, where breeding alone is not enough without proper environmental protection.

Q4. Is Whitaker optimistic at the end of the text? What makes him feel that way?
Ans: Yes, Whitaker is optimistic at the end of the text because of the growing awareness and support for saving rivers and gharials. He feels that the increasing number of people and organizations supporting conservation efforts is a positive sign for the future of the gharial population. This optimism comes from the recognition that both local and global efforts are beginning to focus on preserving natural ecosystems, which is essential for the gharial’s survival.

Q5. The territory-holder surges forward, churning the water into froth with his tail.
a. Who is being talked about?
Ans: A male gharial
b. What does he surge towards?
Ans: A rival male
c. With what intention?
Ans: To defend his territory
d. What are the two possible results?
Ans: He either wins or retreats

Q6. Her thirty-six babies followed, rather like ducklings.
a. Whose babies?
Ans: A female gharial’s
b. Whom did they follow?
Ans: Their mother
c. Where were the babies?
Ans: Inside the nest in the sand
d. In what way was this unusual?
Ans: Unlike other crocodiles, they were not carried but walked behind her

Q7. Not for the gharial the still waters of ponds or lakes where other crocodiles thrive.
a. Why are 'still waters' not for the gharial?
Ans: They need deep, flowing rivers rich in fish
b. How is its uniqueness also its biggest problem?
Ans: Because dams, pollution, and drying rivers destroy that special habitat

Q8. Fishing is a massive problem.
a. How does fishing affect the gharials?
Ans: Their snouts get stuck in nylon nets and they die unable to feed
b. What would you suggest to counter the problem of fishing?
Ans: Ban nets in sanctuaries, monitor rivers, and educate local fishermen

Appreciating the Text

Q1. What do you think was the writer's intention behind writing the text? Does she want to persuade us about something? Can you identify the line in para 16 in which she makes her plea to the readers?
Ans: The writer's intention is to raise awareness about the gharial’s endangered status and the need for conservation. She aims to persuade the readers to take action to preserve the species. The line “We must do everything that it takes to save the gharial, the finest example of a healthy river” is a direct plea, urging readers to contribute to the protection of this important species and its river ecosystem.

Q2. Let’s try and understand how the writer makes her appeal to us through the text.
a. Would you call the text factual or opinion-based?
Ans: Factual, based on real observations
b. Does first-person narration make it more believable?
Ans: Yes, it feels authentic and convincing
c. Is the writing dry or vivid?
Ans: Vivid, full of lively images like jaw-claps and duckling-like babies
d. What information about behaviour connects us emotionally?
Ans: Parental care and babies climbing onto parents
e. Were you convinced by the arguments?
Ans: Yes, the facts and emotional appeal together persuade us strongly