Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha maintains one of India’s largest captive crocodilian collections with 272 individuals representing seven species.
The collection includes Mugger Crocodile (54), Gharial (169), Saltwater Crocodile (25), Morelet’s Crocodile (2), Siamese Crocodile (14), Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman (5), and Nile Crocodile (3).
In 2019, the park launched the “Species Recovery of Gharial in River Mahanadi” project to strengthen gharial reintroduction. The programme focused on habitat assessment, stakeholder participation, post-release monitoring, and public outreach. Since then, 32 GPS/VHF tagged gharials, including 12 males and 20 females, have been released into the river to support population recovery.
Community-based conservation measures added strength to the initiative. Authorities established a 10-km no-fishing zone, compensated fishing net losses, incentivised the return of accidentally captured gharials, and promoted awareness through the “KumbhiraBandhu” campaign.
A major milestone came with the revival of natural breeding of gharials in the River Mahanadi after nearly 40 years. Between 2021 and 2025, 160 hatchlings were recorded within the protected zones. In 2026, a released gharial laid eggs at Satkosia gorge, producing 19 hatchlings. Captive breeding also achieved success at Nandankanan, with three nests yielding 14 hatchlings in 2025 and eight nests producing 76 hatchlings in 2026.
These achievements highlight the effectiveness of Nandankanan’s integrated approach to crocodile conservation and gharial recovery. The park’s efforts demonstrate how scientific management and community participation can revive critically endangered species.
