A documentary titled Gharial- on the verge of extinction by senior journalist Lalit Shastri was released by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (wildlife) PB Gangopadhyaya at the multi-arts complex Bharat Bhawan here on Tuesday.
Senior forest officials and wildlife experts joined discussion on the gharial crisis before the screening of the documentary shot, directed and produced by Shastri.
The documentary is a telling commentary on the status of the special crocodilian the endangered gharial. It showcased the natural grandeur of the Chambal river that has remained a perfect habitat for gharials over millions of years.
It is also home for smooth coated otters, Gangetic dolphins and few rare species of turtles.
A 400-km stretch of the Chambal river has been declared as the National Chambal Sanctuary.
According to the lUCN's Red List, the gharial is the most threatened of all crocodilian species. The gharial is threatened by human pressure and is fighting a battle for survival.
It is threatened by shrinking prey base, illegal sand mining, river bed cultivation, fishing and river pollution.
The gharial also gets killed by fishermen and turtle hunters.
The gharial crisis has now touched alarming levels. Since December 2007, more than 100 gharials have died in a small stretch of the Chambal river falling in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Post-mortem findings have revealed presence of excessive lead and inflammation of intestines and this is indicative of massive river pollution.
