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The Gharial (Gavialis
gangeticus) is a unique species of crocodilian, characterized
by its long, thin snout and the bulbous growth at
the end of its snout. Though millions of years ago
there were several similar species, today the Gharial
is the last remaining species of this ancient line,
the last surviving species of the family Gavialidae.
The status of the crocodilian species Gharial, Gavialis
gangeticus has recently been revised by the IUCN to
Critically Endangered.
There are only between 150 and 200 of this species
living in the wild along India's rivers today. Another
20 or so are in captivity in India, Japan, Singapore,
Sri Lanka and the United States, according to figures
from the Prague zoo.
As part of the strategy
to help save the Gharial from the brink of extinction
and to get zoos more involved in the Gharial conservation
efforts, The Living Planet Foundation is working with
the Houston Zoo on a proposal to build a facility
for the captive bred Gharial from India to hopefully
bask and reproduce. read
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