Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Biswaranjan Mishra, 5TH JANUARY 2021: The revised strategy for recovery of Gharials in Satkoshia-Gorge in its southern-most home is more conservation oriented. This includes the involvement of five forest divisions on either side of the river Mahanadi, implementation of rigid protection measures, declaration of ‘No Fishing Zone’ in 10 Kms of Satkoshia Gorge where present population of gharial is existing, spreading of awareness among local people, provision of compensation for the damaged fishing net and reward of Rs.1000/-for live Gharial caught.
It is hoped that Gharials will be saved in the fabled Satkoshia Gorge with future releases as programmed in the ongoing ambitious scheme the “Species recovery of gharial Gavialis Gangeticus, Gmelin in the river Mahanadi ”.
After a fifteen month of pilot study with release of 7 transmitter tagged sub-adult gharials since 20th July 2019, six number oftransmitter taggedgharials of either sex (3M:3F), measuring 2.3m-3.3m from Nandankanan Biological Park as before are being released today, the 5th January 2021.