Gharial crocodile translocation to Banke National Park, Nepal

WWF-Nepal and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation translocated 10 adult gharials from Chitwan National Park to a 17.4-mile stretch of the West Rapti River in Banke National Park. The site was selected for its stable temperatures, sandy banks, and low human activity. The project included an acclimatization period, community awareness campaigns involving 122 participants, and the training of four citizen scientists. Monitoring indicates that at least 5 of the translocated crocodiles have been sighted, aligning with a typical 50% survival rate for such releases in Nepal.

• Gharial crocodiles are critically endangered and occupy only 2% of their historic range, with increased vulnerability to climate change due to their sensitivity to temperature changes.
• Ten adult gharials (nine female and one male) were translocated from the Gharial Breeding Centre in Chitwan National Park to a 17.4-mile stretch of the West Rapti River in Banke National Park, a site chosen for its limited human influence, sandy banks, and smaller temperature swings.
• The project utilized community engagement and citizen science to ensure conservation success, with 19 community members and 103 students participating in awareness campaigns and four trained citizen scientists recording sightings of at least 5 translocated gharials.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Gharial crocodile translocation to Banke National Park, Nepal. https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/gharial-crocodile/

Chicago

WWF International. Gharial crocodile translocation to Banke National Park, Nepal. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/gharial-crocodile/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Gharial crocodile translocation to Banke National Park, Nepal |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/gharial-crocodile/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndgharial, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Gharial crocodile translocation to Banke National Park, Nepal}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/gharial-crocodile/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }