Previous Year Question

The Chambal River is the most suitable place among the given options to see the gharial in its natural habitat.

The scientific name of the gharial is Gavialis gangeticus, and it is a distinctive freshwater crocodilian reptile found in the river systems of the Indian subcontinent.

It has a very long and narrow snout adapted for catching fish.

Adult males develop a rounded, pot-like structure at the tip of the snout. The name ‘gharial’ is derived from this structure.

The gharial feeds mainly on fish and prefers deep, clean and flowing rivers.

It requires wide and relatively undisturbed sandy riverbanks for basking and laying eggs.

The National Chambal Sanctuary extends along a long section of the Chambal River across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The Chambal River supports one of the world’s major breeding populations of the gharial.

The National Chambal Sanctuary is also important for the Ganges River Dolphin, Indian Skimmer, Red-crowned Roofed Turtle and several other turtle species.

Other important populations of the gharial in India occur in the Girwa, Gandak and certain other river systems of northern and central India.

A natural gharial population also occurs in the Narayani-Rapti river system of Nepal.

Dams and barrages, alteration of river flow, sand mining, entanglement in fishing nets and human use of riverbanks are its major threats.

Bhitarkanika Mangroves are located in Odisha and are mainly famous for the saltwater crocodile.

Pulicat Lake is a brackish-water lagoon on the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and is famous for migratory waterbirds.

Deepor Beel is a freshwater wetland in Assam and an important bird habitat, but it is not known for a major natural population of gharials.