ZEE NEWS (Noida, India) 03 February 06 New batch of city-bred "ghariyals" released in India.
Uttar Pradesh: The long-nosed "ghariyal" is a cousin of the crocodile and is on the endangered list. A special breeding programme has so far seen four-thousand "ghariyals" released into the Chambal river in India's Uttar Pradesh. The release is part of a government initiative that began in 1979.
Most of the juvenile "ghariyals" were quick to leave their cages for their new home in the Chambal river in India
The long-nosed cousin of the crocodile is on the endangered list.
But now thanks to a special breeding programme, four thousand "ghariyals" roam the waters near Uttar Pradesh.
K.K. Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, National Chambal Sanctuary, says, "These crocodiles need a fixed area and regular feed. The stretch of river is very long, so even if there are 10,000 or 20,000 of them, it will not create any problem."
"Ghariyals" can grow to over 6 metres long but unlike their cousins are quite timid.
They prefer to use their slender, fast-moving jaws and fearsome teeth to prey almost exclusively on fish.
New batch of city-bred "ghariyals" released in India.