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THE TELEGRAPH (Calcutta, India) 10 October 06 Fish-eater croc spreads panic (Main Uddin Chisti)
Cooch Behar: The sighting of at least five adult gharials, or fish-eating crocodiles, on the banks of the Torsha near the Hanshkhawa ferry ghat has spread panic among villagers living along the river.
No one remembers when this crocodilian species was last sighted in the river. For the past week, the reptiles have been seen basking on the sandbanks and even lying among the blooming kash flowers growing along the riverside.
The residents of Chapaguri village have been staying away from the river, refusing to either wash clothes or bathe in the water. They were seen on boats, drawing water from the river and then bathing in the safety of the vessels.
When contacted on his mobile phone, forest minister Ananta Roy said from Calcutta that the sighting was good news. “There is a gharial breeding and release centre in Uttar Pradesh and the sighting is a proof that conservation projects are having an impact and allowing the endangered species to make a comeback,” Roy said.
The forest minister said if the reptiles came into conflict with humans they could be captured and relocated at Rasikbeel near Tufanganj.
The ferrymen at the Hanshkhawa ghat said the crocodiles were first seen last Tuesday. “We saw two of them with their long snouts and rows of teeth swimming past the boat. The passengers panicked at the sight,” one of them said.
Sonar Ali Miyan, CPM panchayat member of Chapaguri, said people had chased away the basking gharials a few days ago from the riverbank. “They are now too afraid to step into the river water. They are even keeping their livestock away from the banks,” he said.
Ironically, the gharial, though growing up to over three metres in length, are strict fish eaters.
Fish-eater croc spreads panic

It is great to hear that conservation efforts are paying off. Hopefully they will continue to do so and Gharial populations will again flourish throughout India.

Chris

>>THE TELEGRAPH (Calcutta, India) 10 October 06 Fish-eater croc spreads panic (Main Uddin Chisti)
>>Cooch Behar: The sighting of at least five adult gharials, or fish-eating crocodiles, on the banks of the Torsha near the Hanshkhawa ferry ghat has spread panic among villagers living along the river.
>>No one remembers when this crocodilian species was last sighted in the river. For the past week, the reptiles have been seen basking on the sandbanks and even lying among the blooming kash flowers growing along the riverside.
>>The residents of Chapaguri village have been staying away from the river, refusing to either wash clothes or bathe in the water. They were seen on boats, drawing water from the river and then bathing in the safety of the vessels.
>>When contacted on his mobile phone, forest minister Ananta Roy said from Calcutta that the sighting was good news. “There is a gharial breeding and release centre in Uttar Pradesh and the sighting is a proof that conservation projects are having an impact and allowing the endangered species to make a comeback,” Roy said.
>>The forest minister said if the reptiles came into conflict with humans they could be captured and relocated at Rasikbeel near Tufanganj.
>>The ferrymen at the Hanshkhawa ghat said the crocodiles were first seen last Tuesday. “We saw two of them with their long snouts and rows of teeth swimming past the boat. The passengers panicked at the sight,” one of them said.
>>Sonar Ali Miyan, CPM panchayat member of Chapaguri, said people had chased away the basking gharials a few days ago from the riverbank. “They are now too afraid to step into the river water. They are even keeping their livestock away from the banks,” he said.
>>Ironically, the gharial, though growing up to over three metres in length, are strict fish eaters.
>>Fish-eater croc spreads panic
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