40 Gharial crocodiles released into Rapti River

As many as 40 Gharial crocodiles have been released into the Rapti River, Chitwan district with a view to increasing the Gharial's population, RSS reports.

The reptiles were released from Kasara based Office of the Chitwan National Park coinciding with the Wildlife Conservation Week.

They were brought up at the Gharial Breeding Center in the Park with a view to protecting one of the rarest reptiles in the world, said Chief of the Center, Bed Bahadur Khadka.

With this, some 100 crocodiles have been released into the Rapti and Narayani Rivers of late. The park administration released 60 more Gharials on various dates.

The Gharial population is declining at a fast pace, taking the reptile to the brink of extinction, as they do not have proper food due to growing pollution of the rivers.

The animal rights activists have stressed on bringing separate programme to save the rarest reptile's population from the government's level. Nepalnews.com