Dolphins Spotted in Narayani River During Crocodile Monitoring
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Dolphins spotted during crocodile monitoring in Narayani River prompt intrigue. The team from Chitwan National Park encountered them near Bhutaaha area.
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Dolphins were spotted in the Narayani River during recent monitoring activities focused on crocodiles in the waterways. A team from Chitwan National Park saw the dolphins in the Narayani after finishing up crocodile monitoring in the Rapti River earlier.
According to Sujita Shrestha, an Assistant Conservation Officer at the park, the dolphins were visible near the Bhutaaha area along the Narayani on Tuesday as the team was heading back from Golaghat to the Baghban post.
Interestingly, dolphins had also been observed last year around Golaghat. Shrestha said it's still unclear whether these are new dolphins being seen or the same ones from last year showing up in a different spot.
In addition to the dolphins, the monitoring team encountered five of the rare gharial crocodiles. Since their numbers had dwindled in the rivers, one gharial was brought from Bardiya and released into the Rapti back in January 2018. As per Shrestha, three gharials have now been seen in the Rapti River and two in the Narayani near Golaghat and Baghban.
After three days of monitoring the Rapti, the team moved to the Narayani River. They plan to finish surveying the Narayani by Thursday, after which the Budhi Rapti River will be monitored starting Friday.
Shrestha estimates there may also be gharial crocodiles present in the Belojee region of the Narayani. In total, 148 crocodiles were observed in the Rapti, while 100 crocodiles were spotted in the Narayani over the first two days.
This type of annual monitoring assesses crocodile populations in the rivers. A team led by the Assistant Conservation Officer overseeing the crocodile breeding center conducts the week-long monitoring each year. Any issues noted can then be addressed to aid conservation.
According to Park Information Officer Ganeshprasad Tiwari, crocodile eggs are gathered from riverbanks in Chaitra and Baisakh (March-April) and incubated at the breeding center in Kasara. The hatchlings are later released back into the rivers. This breeding center was established to conserve the endangered gharial crocodiles.