|
Indian Gharial (Gavialis
gangeticus) is reclassified as Critically Endangered
(CR) crocodile species by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN), in 2007. The IUCN Red List put the number
of breeding adult Gharials in Nepal and India to be
182 which is a clear decline of 58% compared to their
number of 436 a decade ago.
Despite considerable efforts by conservationists
over three decades to restock wild populations with
gharials bred in captivity, the wild population plummeted
to less than 200 breeding adults in 2006. Then, over
a period of just two months from December 2007 to
January 2008, around a hundred adult gharials were
mysteriously found dead at the site of the species'
largest breeding population. It is clear that this
charismatic species appears to be in greater peril
today than at any other time in its 150 million year
history.
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) recognizes
that the world zoo-community has significant potential
to draw wide public attention to the gharial extinction
crisis and accelerate and facilitate conservation
efforts. As such, zoos have become an important force
in gharial conservation through education, awareness,
and fund raising efforts. Living Planet Foundation
will shortly announce plans to for a gharial exhibit
at a US Zoo.
|
