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SCIENCE

June 5, 2007

GHARIAL

CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

(Formerly known as Gharial Multi-Task Force)

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NEWSLETTER

Number Four/ June 2007

Dear GMTF Members,

What can I say? Returning back from Ethiopia and the problems of how to involve the local people in sustainably managing a nice big healthy population of Nile crocodiles, the reality of what happens to a crocodilian when it is “worth less than nothing” hits you right between the eyes. Still, I apologize for being so late in sending the out-country members an update of what is going on in gharial land and the in-country members a summary of the world view on the continuing gharial crisis.

In this newsletter, GMTF Office Coordinator Laurel Converse and self are compiling the relevant news, news links, important emails and GMTF activities since last December and providing you a summary. But before that, here’s some wisdom that has filtered in from colleagues who are putting a lot of thought into planning a future for the gharial:

1. Propose and insist on a moratorium on further gharial releases unless habitats have been secured, the river people are taken on board in support of the programme and scientifically planned post release monitoring of released gharial is guaranteed. What we should have learned from past (negative) experience is that we must adhere to the IUCN Reintroduction Guidelines to secure the future of the gharial.

2. We need a permanent team of scientists on the rivers to both undertake the studies recommended in our River Watch deliberations (most of which were suggested as far back as 1980) and to monitor a worsening situation in terms of habitat loss and lawlessness. There needs to be a core group of scientists, with a regular flow of Junior and Senior Research Fellows, coupled with part time consultants in the fields of social science, hydrology, limnology and other pertinent disciplines. 

3. The future of rivers important to river people and the gharial (and of course river dolphins, otters, turtles, fish and migratory birds) needs to be expertly assessed and prediction models for 10, 20 and 50 years created. In the light of planned irrigation projects, continuing flood/drought events and the disaster in the making called ‘river interlinking’, we need to decide exactly what energy has to be spent in which directions if the rivers themselves are to even survive! 

Feedback is always welcome, action is even more welcome.

Rom Whitaker

Laurel Converse 

1. Fundraising

- John Brueggen, at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Florida, USA, donated $500

- Roland Wirth and colleagues via ZGAP (Zoological Society for Conservation of Species and Populations), Germany, raised Euros 1500

- Don Boyer and colleagues via the Gharial Conservation Fund at San Diego Zoo have raised an additional $ 20,500 in 2007

- Rene Hedegaard of the Danish Croc Zoo donated $2600

- Eddy Even and Florian Haselbarth raised Euros 550 at the Hamm reptile expo in Germany

- Terry Cullen, Director, Cullen Vivarium Wildlife Conservancy, Milwaukee, USA, has raised $1200 

We are in the process of prioritizing gharial conservation work for 2007/8 and the Core Group will soon deliberate on plans for the coming winter surveys, education and extension programmes. We will keep you informed as to where the money is being spent and the outcome of the field-work being supported by many generous donors. 

2. Grants:

We have recently applied for the following grants.

• Sir Peter Scott Fund (IUCN): “Gharial Recovery Project”- Population and habitat surveys, development and implementation of management plans, creation of a gharial information database, and community cooperative projects for gharial conservation.
• The Levinson Foundation: “The Gharial and River Community Survival Project”-Community education, awareness, and advocacy for the gharial, including cooperative development of mutually beneficial strategies for gharial conservation and improving the livelihood options of local communities.

3. Disbursement of Funds (current exchange rate is about Rs.40 per 1US$ and about Rs.54 per Euro):

Based on gharial conservation project work approved by the GMTF Core Group last December, these are the funds that have been disbursed since then:

1. Dr. R.K.Sharma, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department – Rs.55,348 for salary and logistic support of Junior Research Fellow and Assistant, working in the National Chambal Sanctuary
2. Dr. R.J. Rao, Jiwaji University, Gwalior – Rs.54,500 for salary and logistic support of Junior Research Fellow also working in the National Chambal Sanctuary
3. R. Whitaker/S. Dattatri – Rs.80,000 for a short documentary on the gharial crisis (material still be gathered for this)
4. R. Whitaker – Rs.18,000 for GMTF office support for six months (July-December, 2006)
5. Madras Crocodile Bank – Rs.85,000 for VSAT hardware and connection for internet connectivity to be availed by GMTF

4. Projects approved but remaining to be done:

Regrettably all that was planned for last winter, particularly surveys of important or potentially important gharial habitats, could not be done for various reasons, most importantly personnel and permissions. These shortcomings will be made up for in the coming winter, the best time for gharial surveys, including:

1. Corbett National Park, (Ramganga River)

2. Brahmaputra and tributaries

3. Ganga/Gandak in Bihar

4. Kuno and Kali Sind (tributaries of the Chambal)

5. Ken and Son in M.P.

6. Indus in Punjab

Activities to do over the next year:

Besides the basic surveys of gharial numbers, R.J. Rao and others suggest several other priority activities, based on previous recommendations and our discussions at the last November River Watch conference in Gwalior:

1.      Hire permanent field staff in critical gharial habitats to monitor the gharial population because just an annual survey is inadequate.

2.      Monitor gharial nesting, hatching, fate of the hatchlings and recruitment rate.

3.      Monitor released gharial in a carefully designed marking and telemetric study

4.      Monitor human activities and their impact on gharial population.

5.      Study the socio-economic situation that would suggest livelihood alternatives for local people

6.      Study, develop and implement an aggressive education campaign in gharial areas

5. Publicity

-IGUANA magazine - John Binns of the International Reptile Conservation Foundation has been very supportive of our publicity and fundraising activities by providing space on his website and magazine IGUANA. The latest issue of Iguana features a cover article on the plight of the gharial Check Volume 14, Number 1, March 2007 and don’t miss their website: www.IRCF.org. John has added an informative section on the gharial and work of the GMTF, including links to related articles. He has also added the

GMTF to his donation page of the website. As our own website is not up and running yet this will provide a much needed link for information and donations. John writes:

“It is our aim to help support the Gharial effort by assisting to develop awareness and hopefully contributions. Our March 2007 issue will feature Rom’s Gharial update. We’re well along on our Gharial web-section development, which includes: a donation port (receipts will be transferred to GMTF); a merchandise store; download section; photo gallery, news and events, etc. We still need to develop and create a Gharial information package we can use to handout at shows, events, etc. Needless to say we’re working on other ideas to assist. Lastly, we’ll exploit some our websites to promote the Gharial and GMTF, one of which has a hit-rate between 600K and 750K per month.”

-Sanctuary Asia magazine, Vol.XXVI No.5, October, 2006 – “Sanctuary Campaign” –“Gharials: Going, Going, Gone?” pp.96 and 97, by GMTF members. Editor Bittu Sahgal is another ultra-supportive colleague who has opened his ‘Kids for Tigers’ campaign to create awareness for the plight of the gharial. This linkage to thousands of school children is invaluable. 

-The Hindu Newspaper, October 8, 2006 – “Gharial on the Brink” p.7 by R.Whitaker and J.Lenin. This is one of the main Indian newspapers that is read by decision makers and taken seriously.

-Hornbill magazine, Bombay Natural History Society, July-September, 2006 – Cover story “Save the Gharials” pp. 4-9, by R.Whitaker and GMTF members. This is Asia’s oldest and biggest conservation/research organization and highly prestigious.

-Down to Earth magazine, November 30, 2006 – Cover story “Too Well Heeled” pp.42-49 by Kirtiman Awasthi, with inputs from GMTF members (the few glitches you may find therein may kindly be excused). This is India’s leading environmental publication.

-BBC Wildlife magazine, June 2007 – “From the Jaws of Extinction” pp.60-65 by J. Lenin. This is one of the ‘must read’ wildlife magazines in the world and excellent publicity for GMTF, River Watch and the gharial itself.

-Times of India, Guwahati, Assam, November 12, 2006 – “Spare a Teardrop for Brahmaputra’s Croc (submitted by GMTF Core Group member Firoz Ahmed).

-The Telegraph, Calcutta, October 10, 2006 – “Fish-eater Croc Causes Panic” (submitted by Bruce Shwedick) 

-Bruce Shwedick (Crocodile Conservation Services, Florida) writes that he will be speaking about the plight of the gharial at the National Zoological Park in Washington, DC on July 9th and at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore on July 21st.

-Colin Stevenson writes: An article was published in the Feb issue of Reptile Care magazine here in the UK on croc conservation, focussing on gharial and tomistoma, and also mindorensis, siamensis, sinensis. This mag is distributed in the UK, USA and Australia and the details are: Stevenson, C. 2007. Crocodiles in need of friends. Reptile Care, vol 3(6):14-17.   Colin also gives

informal presentations via his Crocodile Encounters talks in the UK. 

-R.J. Rao writes: In Jiwaji University we prepared a brochure on the conservation value of gharial in the National Chambal Sanctuary.

Also a poster has been prepared on the threats to gharial and its habitat for display in the International conference on Rivers held at Patna University, Patna, Bihar in 2006

-D. Basu prepared a gharial publicity leaflet/poster in Hindi during 2006 which has been widely distributed in gharial areas. He also informs us about a Hindi booklet 'Gharial conservation at Kukkrail -the success story' published by the Endangered Species Project, UPFD

And see below under “Zoos” (and let me know if I’ve left out any other publicity any of you might have implemented in the past 6 months, we want to hear about it!)

6. GMTF Website:

The GMTF website is in the final stages of development. Yes, we know we’ve said this before, but after many rounds of revisions, additions, and revamping we are finally at the stage of handing it over to a professional web development group to finalize technical aspects, such as an online donations site, and put it online. A professional photographer and web designer based in Chennai, Saravana Kumar, has been working with us to design and edit the site. Many thanks, Sara! We will of course be sending out a

celebratory posting to the GMTF email group when it is finally online.  

7. Zoos and Gharial Conservation:

Ivan Rehak, EAZA reports:

-Ivan Rehak and Ralf Sommerlad have submitted a proposal to WAZA to launch a crocodilian conservation campaign, including a gharial conservation project. As there are already a few conservation projects planned for 2007 and 2008 this most likely may not occur until 2009. 

1. First steps taken towards a EAZA crocodile campaign – a presentation to EAZA members, information sent to EAZA Proceedings, ARTAG support for campaign, informal communication with key EAZA persons. [This is a major achievement as competing for EAZA’s attention are also other taxa in need of conservation.]

2. As part of the strategy to get zoos more involved in the gharial campaign, the Prague Zoo has expressed interest in obtaining captive bred gharials from India.

3. Ivan submitted a proposal to WAZA to adopt a gharial resolution (see below). Word is awaited on the outcome.

4. The Prague Zoo will allocate some direct financial support for gharial conservation and GMTF activities.

Planned future activities:

1. End of March 2007: initiate a gharial conservation working group in IUCN/SSC/CBSG to facilitate a WAZA resolution. 

2. July 2007 - Prague Zoo pavilion for gharials opening: great opportunity to explain to wide public (opening ceremony, press releases, TV talks etc.) gharial problems and conservation needs, publicize and launch our support for gharial conservation/GMTF, opening ceremony give chance to invite important people, to persuade chiefs and sponsors etc. (unfortunately this great initiative was held up because of bureaucratic delays in issuing permits on the India side – RW)

3. August 2007: CBSG Annual Meeting - gharial working group to evaluate resolution draft - goal: addressing WAZA with request to adopt gharial resolution.

4. August 2007: WAZA Annual Conference: WAZA to adopt gharial resolution and associated issues - addressing WAZA members to provide all possible resources to gharial conservation (and perhaps some direct WAZA project?) - very important to persuade zoo directors to act for gharial conservation, a good pretext to alert directors of gharial keeping zoos and unite them for action, important (although not a condition) for approval of intended EAZA campaign.

5. September 2007: EAZA Annual Meeting: To try to ensure the next available campaign is for crocodiles.

6. September 2008 (hopefully) Launch of the EAZA campaign in coordination with GMTF to prepare project to be approved for EAZA support.

7. After campaign: to allocate significant financial resources to gharial conservation/GMTF project(s).

8. Future: A continuing conservation co-operation with the Prague Zoo and the EAZA ARTAG.

WAZA Resolution on the Gharial Extinction Crisis 

 Recognizing:

•     That the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), being the most unique crocodilian species of extraordinary conservation value, represents an irreplaceable heritage of global importance; 

•     That past conservation efforts to save gharials has completely failed to ensure its long-term survival;

•     That gharials face an immediate extinction crisis in its last refugia in India and Nepal;

•     That the gharial has become by far the rarest and most endangered large animal species of the Indian subcontinent;

•     That only an immediate complex conservation action in gharial´s range countries with wide international perception, support and co-ordination can reverse imminent extinction;

•     That the factors behind the extinction are known, but this knowledge is not reflected in real gharial conservation at present;

•     That the gharial is a flagship species for conservation of the whole of its disappearing riverine habitat and associate wild community including a number of other critically endangered species like river dolphins, otters, fish and turtles;

•     That WAZA with its strong conservation mission may come to the aid of the gharial and promote all measures to prevent its extinction.

Therefore WAZA:

•      ongoing extinction spasm;

•      Acknowledges the pioneering efforts of various institutions and individuals (Jiwaji University, IUCN, GMTF, MCBT, etc) in assessing gharial status and the scale of its extinction process;

•      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;

•      Recognizes that its members have skills and abilities to link their conservation mission and ex situ experience with in situ conservation, in the accordance with the WZACS;

•      Urges its members, both associations and individual institutions, to support conservation efforts to ensure the gharial´s survival in these desperate times.

•      There are many ways in which members can contribute – spreading alarm on the gharial´s terrible troubles, financial and material support for gharial conservation, direct co-operation with in situ projects.

•      WAZA commits itself to encourage its members to contribute;

•      WAZA will liaise and will collaborate with the relevant bodies established by IUCN and its partners to confront the ongoing extinction of gharial.

(Drafted by Ivan Rehak, Prague Zoo)

Don Boyer, San Diego Zoo, explains the crucial role of U.S. zoos in gharial conservation: 

“While the critical work to protect gharials from extinction in the wild is most needed in their native habitat, United States zoos have taken up the call to support these efforts wherever possible. In 2004, the Cleveland Zoo and the San Diego Zoo started a fund to help support in-situ conservation. Since then, the two zoos have contributed $26,000 to the Gharial Multi-Task Force (GMTF). These funds are used for gharial surveys, ongoing monitoring of known populations, and operational expenditures by the local associates of the GMTF. Though they do not keep gharials, the Dallas Zoo recognized the precarious position of the wild population and recently joined in contributing to the fund. An additional $20,500 has been raised in 2007. A plea has been put out to other AZA institutions to give to this important endeavor.

Another objective of United States institutions is to create a self-sustaining population to serve as a genetic reservoir for the species. A self-sustaining population of gharials in the United States would have the additional benefit of increasing the number of institutions that keep these alluring animals. This in turn would help to raise awareness and funds for gharial conservation as well as create a broader base of support for pressuring the Indian and other governments to act decisively to protect gharials in the wild.

possibility. To accomplish this the current United States population of 19 (5.12.2) animals would have to be amended from captive-reared animals in India. The importation of additional gharial to augment the North American population has been endorsed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Crocodilian Advisory Group (AZA/CAG) and also endorsed by Dr Kent Vliet, gharial studbook coordinator.”

The GMTF acknowledges the leading role that U.S., European and worldwide zoos can play in gharial conservation and efforts have been initiated to create more self-sustaining captive populations outside of India, another insurance against extinction of the species. RW

8. REPORT ON A VISIT TO WEST BENGAL TO ASSESS POSSIBILITIES OF REVIVAL/CONSOLIDATION OF GHARIAL AND RIVER TERRAPIN CONSERVATION

INTRODUCTION:

A team comprised of Mr. Harry Andrews, formerly of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, and Mr. D. Basu, State Executive Collaborator, Turtle and Crocodile Conservation Project, Uttar Pradesh visited West Bengal from the 14 to 21 January 2007. The purpose was to assess possibilities of reviving/consolidation conservation of the gharial and river terrapin, as part of the ongoing Croc Bank project for conservation of crocodilians and turtles in India now funded by TSA and GMTF.

KUNJANAGAR ECO-TOURISM CENTRE, JALDAPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

We visited Kunjanagar Eco-tourism Centre in the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary to examine the captive gharial facilities that have been established there. Some of the gharials, acquired from Uttar Pradesh, have been retained at this centre to develop a captive breeding group.

The oval shaped enclosure (25 x 20 m) is fenced with 1.7 m high chain-link. The base of the fencing is 1 m above ground level. An inner chain link fence 0.90 m high at a distance of 0.90 m from the outer fencing deters gharial from escaping from the enclosure. A strip of land 2.5 m wide surrounds the oval pool whose edge runs parallel to the fence. A shallow area, 0.75 m deep and 0.90 m wide, gradually slopes to a maximum depth of 3 m at the centre. There is no drainage system; wastewater is emptied by pumping.

Dr. P. Mandal, Veterinarian, who is in charge of husbandry operations, informed us that they were rearing 5 gharials (four are 2.5 to 2.75 m and one is 2.1 m in length) in the pool. Because of disturbance caused by visitors and since it was close to sunset, we were able to observe only one gharial. Dr. Mandal said that he was not aware of the sex ratio of the stock, as sexual dimorphism had not become evident yet. The gharial had been procured about five years ago and no breeding or nesting has been witnessed so far.

soon as the animals reach breeding size unless, provided there is at least one compatible male in the group. 

MURTI RIVER GHARIAL REINTRODUCTION PROJECT

GORUMARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Murti River within the Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary is the site of West Bengal’s gharial reintroduction programme. According to Mr. Bimal Debnath, Range Officer, GWLS, 30 animals were reintroduced in 1999 and 2004. All the animals of the first reintroduction dispersed downstream of which 3 were re-captured and brought back to the reintroduction site. Currently 11 animals survive in the corral while 2 other animals live outside in a truly wild state. We counted up to 13 individuals of two discrete size classes at a deep pool in the Murti River. The larger animals were about 3 m in length while smaller animals were about 2 m. Due to the loss of an initial batch of released gharial at the site, a ‘corral’ or ‘soft release enclosure’ had been constructed which rose above the high water level. The gharials are more or less restricted to the pool in the dry season due to the absence of suitable habitat up and down river.  Amazingly, they are herded with fishnets into the paddock before the onset of the monsoon floods and, after the floodwaters have receded, are released to free range in the river again. The gharial, which try to disperse, are led back to the enclosure by a maze like arrangement of barriers constructed downstream. Since the riverbanks are heavily vegetated a section has been cleared and sand beds provided, which were being utilized by the gharial for basking.

Impressions and remarks: The Murti River site has been identified as a former habitat of the gharial by the Zoological Survey of India, but the site does not have any of the attributes of more conducive habitats where gharial presently reside, such as those in the Chambal and Girwa Rivers. However, in view of the grim battle the species is waging for its survival, if gharial eventually can be rehabilitated successfully at this site i.e., establishment of a breeding group, it will be a significant achievement. The Murti is a part of the Teesta river system so the possibility of a larger strategy to successfully reintroduce gharial in the Teesta should not be lost sight of. The Kunjanagar captive breeding facility could be an asset in the implementation of this strategy and the performance of the breeding facility should be closely monitored.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

There was considerable enthusiasm about the gharial programme among local officials. The reintroduction of gharial in the Murti River in Gorumara National Park has achieved the survival of a significant proportion of released animals in a semi wild habitat/situation. However, as a strategic conservation achievement, it has not reached a stage where a former habitat has been re-colonized by a breeding group. The project has not involved the support and participation of local stakeholders. It is significant that the local Forest Authorities have displayed considerable commitment and ingenuity in the execution of the programme so far.

Officials of the WBFD at all levels did seem keen and receptive to our suggestions that rehabilitation programmes for threatened aquatic reptiles should be initiated/revived/consolidated or expanded and requested us to prepare a concept paper or proposal for a suitable project to achieve this.

D. Basu, State Executive Collaborator, Turtle and Crocodile Conservation Project, Uttar Pradesh (edited down by me to concentrate on the gharial findings, RW)

 May 6, 2007

9. Capacity building:

Benu Dahal from the Government’s Phuentsholing captive breeding facility in Bhutan visited Croc Bank in April 2007 for training in all aspects of captive breeding and care of gharials. Whilst he was away, two of his captive gharial back in Bhutan laid 15 and 21 eggs respectively. We are in touch with him about candling for fertility and incubation techniques and wish him all the best in incubating these successfully. This is a first for Bhutan!

U Win Ko Ko, of the World Conservation Society turtle conservation project in Myanmar visited the Croc Bank between May 6^th and 11^th. Though his primary mission was to see the turtle captive breeding facilities there we had lengthy discussions about the possibility of there being suitable gharial habitat in Myanmar. Win feels that fishing pressure and dam projects mitigate against the possibilities of reintroducing gharial in Myanmar but notes that there are still remote river stretches that need to be assessed. Besides the two gharial records in the literature, Win came across the mandible of what appeared to be a gharial with a local medicine man in an upcountry village, more tantalizing evidence of the historical existence of the gharial in Myanmar. 

10. Uplisting for the gharial to Critically Endangered

The proposal was submitted last December via the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group. We are still awaiting their decision and will inform the GMTF as soon as we hear from IUCN.

11. TRI-STATE MULTI-TAXA SURVEY IN THE NATIONAL CHAMBAL             SANCTUARY

Submitted by GMTF Core Group Member, R.J. Rao, Jiwaji University (and edited by me, RW)

A Technical Workshop initiated by the Gharial Multi Task Force was held at the end of a series of consultations between the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, WWF-India, Madras Crocodile Bank and Conservation Biology Unit of the School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh during 28-30 November 2006. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss possible contributions to, and to initiate the development of a joint conservation programme for a new conservation initiative, River Watch and in particular, to develop joint plans for an aquatic species conservation programme. 

In view of the extreme importance of the National Chambal Sanctuary for the conservation of several endangered species, it was agreed upon at the River Watch workshop at Jiwaji University, Gwalior in November 2006 that a joint faunal survey of this sanctuary should be conducted to assess the status of these species and study the pressures on the Sanctuary. The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department organized the survey in the National Chambal Sanctuary in the month of February 2007 and invited several experts and staff of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh Forest Departments to participate. More than 18 people including scientists and researchers from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Chennai, World Wide Fund for Nature, New Delhi, Delhi University, New Delhi, NGOs from Itawah and Bhopal, field staff of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh Forest Department participated in the 12-day survey (2^nd to 9^th February and 23^rd to 26^th February.  

Methods:

Staff and volunteers are supplied with a kit bag containing binoculars, data sheets, field maps of different sections of the river, pen, pencils and writing pads. In addition instruments like thermometer to record ambient and water temperatures, GPS to record the geographical coordinates to record the location of animals, cameras to take photographs of animals and human activities in the wildlife habitats.

The populations of gharial, mugger, dolphin, both totals as well as by age/size classes, their distribution and encounter rates in different designated zones of the sanctuary, recorded in the survey are given in tables. 

Summary of results:

A total of 137 gharial basking sites were identified during the census and a total of 865 gharial of various size groups were sighted in the 465 km of the river, of which 20 were adult males (with ghara development) and 188 were adult females (though it is surmised that 15 to 20% (N = 28 to 38) of these were subadult males with no gharas; RW comment). 91 dolphins, out of which 52 were adults, 26 were young and 13 were calves were sighted at 28 sites from Bharra to Pachhnada. Tracks of otters were located on

mid- island sand banks at Dang Basai, however, no otter was sighted.

Table 1. Total number of gharial counted in National Chambal Sanctuary, February, 2007