Chandigarh— In a major conservation success, a large gharial, measuring over 12 feet long, has been successfully rescued from the Indira Gandhi Canal in Rajasthan. This came after nearly five months of continuous monitoring and joint efforts by the forest departments of Rajasthan and Punjab.
The critically endangered reptile has been taken to Chhatbir Zoo in Punjab, where it will undergo a thorough examination, rehabilitation and acclimatisation process by veterinarians before being released into the Beas River Conservation Reserve.
The gharial was first spotted in the Indira Gandhi Canal in March 2026. Several attempts were made to rescue it over the next few months, but operations were delayed due to high water levels, strong currents, and the animal’s continued movement through the canal’s extensive network.
The reptile was finally rescued from Mohangarh Minor in Jaisalmer district on July 27 after the water conditions improved.
Officials said the successful rescue was possible due to constant coordination between the forest departments of Rajasthan and Punjab, wildlife experts and field teams, who closely tracked the animal’s movement across several districts.
Punjab has emerged as a key site for gharial conservation. Under a collaborative program led by the Punjab Forest Department, with technical support from WWF-India and other conservation partners, 94 young gharials have already been reintroduced into the Beas River Conservation Reserve. The arrival of rescued large gharials is expected to further strengthen the species’ recovering population in the Beas-Harike river system.
Wildlife officials described the operation as a significant example of successful inter-state collaboration for species conservation, reaffirming the commitment of both states to saving one of India’s most endangered freshwater reptiles and restoring its natural habitat in northwestern India.