Visit to Gharial Breeding Center Lucknow
Ghariyal (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as the Gavial is a Fish eating crocodile and native to North India. While my stay in Lucknow, I came to know about Ghariyal Breeding center and decided to visit the same. It looks like a small center but doing some good work in protecting this wonderful specie. The breeding center is set up in Kukrail area in the city of Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Lucknow happen to be the capital of UP and is also known as City of Nawabs. Kukrail area is a reserve forest situated close to Indira Nagar.
Gharial also known as gavial is longest among all living crocodile. They can measure 21 feets in length. They have a long and thin snout. The name Ghariyal comes from a distinctive boss at the end of long snout of males which resembles earthen pot known as “Ghara” in hindi, which is widely used to store water. The specie is a critically endangered specie listed in IUCN Red List. This breeding center is set up to protect the specie from extinction. The Ghariyal crocodile when fully grown up are released in many rivers of North India including Chambal, Ghagra and Ganges or the holy river Ganga.
We destroy and then we desperately make efforts to revive nature. This has been the history of mankind. Gharial (crocodile) is one such specie whose revival efforts are being put in place by Indian Government. There was a time when these beautiful creatures were found across India. Now their existence has shrank to 2% of the original habitat and very few are left now. The specie is close to extinction and such efforts of protection will help it survive. I also think that it becomes a responsibility of each traveler to visit such places and highlight the concerns in their post and share with others. This will help in creating lot of awareness on the subject and help in the splendid work being done by few individuals and the Government.
The place also have few Magar – Crocodiles, which are fresh water crocodiles.
Important Links
Wiki page on Kukrail Reserve Forest
Link to IUCN Site (The International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Hello! enjoyed your post about the crocodile breeding center. I visited the one in Chitwan National Park in Southern Nepal–very close to India.
thanks a lot…….
Feels a little scary 🙂 Beautiful pictures.
Thanks a lot….. more scary when they grow to full length…… these were smaller in size……