Angul, Nov 24: Twelve baby gharials, rescued during the monsoon season, have been successfully released into the Satkosia Gorge, according to a forest official.
The release took place on Saturday, and by Sunday, the gharials were spotted in good health, officials confirmed.
When rescued, the hatchlings were just four to six inches long. Now, after several months of care, they have grown to between one and two feet in length, as reported by Saroj Kumar Panda, Divisional Forest Officer of the Satkosia Wildlife Division.
The rescue operation was conducted to ensure the safety of the gharial hatchlings during the monsoon, with the babies being taken to the Gharial Research and Conservation Unit at Tikarpara for temporary care. Out of an estimated 35 hatchlings born in the gorge, 12 were brought to the unit, as there was concern that the monsoon floods might carry them downstream.
Panda explained that last year saw a number of gharial deaths due to similar conditions, so additional precautions were taken this year to avoid further losses.
