For centuries the gharial crocodile (Gavialis gangeticus) flourished in the river systems throughout Southern Asia. It lives entirely on fish and presents no danger to man, however, it is highly specialised and has many natural hazards to overcome.
This crocodile digs shallow nests on the
sandy banks of deep, fast flowing rivers. An early monsoon will wash away the
eggs. The eggs are also stolen by humans, who regard them as a delicacy and
attribute them with medicinal properties. Jackals, civets and mongooses - all
common to the river bank - prey on young hatchlings.
Gradually man encroached on the gharial's territory, building reservoirs and barrages, destroying its habitat and restricting its post monsoon movement. Changes in fishing methods weakened the gharial's food chain and increased human traffic on the river bank disturb this shy creatures resting places. Crocodile accessories became high fashion and hunters killed the crocodiles indiscriminately for the skins. By 1974 the gharial was an endangered species, a survey during that year suggested that no more than 200 survived in the wild, of these, 50 were in Nepal.
Nepal's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation established a gharial nursery in Kasara in 1978. Eggs were collected and incubated, the hatchlings being released into rivers when their size gave some protection against predators. The progress and dispersal patterns of the released hatchlings were monitored by radio telemetry and at least 50% survived, compared with a wild survival rate of 1%.
The re-introduction programme was initiated with financial aid from Frankfurt Zoological Society and technical help from UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and the Washington Smithsonian Institution. ITNC has contributed consistently maintaining the nursery, radio telemetry equipment and logistical support. The success of this breeding and re-introduction project has ensured that in Nepal, at least, these unique crocodiles no longer face extinction.
The project continues to this day and has recently been extended to include turtles and some marsh mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris). Visitors to Royal Chitwan National Park can visit the breeding centre at the park headquarters. On display are hatchlings and larger, breeding, crocodiles as well as some that were found injured in the wild and one that was born blind. Whilst a boat trip on the Narayani river can usually find some gharials sunning themselves, a visit to the breeding centre is an excellent chance to get close to these rarest of reptiles.
ITNC is supporting this project whose
objective is to significantly reduce the local herder's incentive for
retributive poisoning or trapping of livestock-raiding Snow Leopards (Panthera
uncia), as well as wolves (Canis lupis) and lynx (Lynx lynx). The plan is
to give herders grants or loans to improve predator proof masonry or stone
livestock pens, education of herders on improved animal husbandry and guardian
practices also improved opportunities for income
generating (ie. tourism, nature
guiding and handicrafts).
In the initial stages a series of test sites have been chosen where different remedial measures have been implemented. The site supported by ITNC is in Ladakh. The programme is only investing in work with communities willing to meet most or all of the conditions governing community engagement and donor support.
Overall technical input and programme management is being undertaken by Doctor Rodney Jackson with support from local NGOs.
The European beaver (Castor fiber) was extirpated from Britain approximately 400 years ago. This study by Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit examined the feasibility and desirability of its re-introduction into the Norfolk Broads. It will also investigate the reasons for recent rapid decline in water vole (Arvicola terrestris) population.
ITNC gave funding for this project.
In recent years ITNC' support has focused on
on Pokhara's wild duck and pheasant farm and wild pheasant sanctuary in the
hills to the North. Over the past 17 years, thousands of pheasants, wild
duck and quail have been hatched and reared. Despite Pokhara's
sub-tropical climate, the Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra), Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus
impejanus), Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) and Kalij Pheasant (Lophura
leucomelanos) have
been successfully bred at the farm, delighting visitors with
their brilliant colouring.
As part of its educational programme, the farm regularly plays host to parties of schoolchildren, ornithologists and study teams who collect data on Pokhara's wildlife, monitor birds' survival rates and study the environmental aspects of bamboo cutting and tree-felling. Training in pheasant breeding and conservation is also given as the farm has an enviable store of expertise in this specialized field.
ITNC supports the farm because it is unique. Nowhere else in Nepal is the breeding and release into the wild of once-abundant native species carried out on such a scale. Equally worthwhile is the pheasant sanctuary; protecting wild creatures in their natural environment is a major factor in species survival.
The Swamp Francolin (Francolinus gularis) is a small, shy member of the pheasant and partridge family, which lives in the low-lying belt of tall, wet grassland stretching along the Indo-Nepal border at the foot of the Himalayas. Conversion of this land to agricultural use and widespread draining has severely reduced the bird's habitat and it faces an uncertain future. Some are known to survive in and around Dudwa National Park in the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The objectives of this research are to obtain numbers inside the Park and adjacent marshes, compare breeding biology and devise optimum management strategies to protect the species. A key element is training local ornithology students and conservationists in non-invasive research techniques. The World Pheasant Association's India Office is working with ITNC to achieve these aims.
Devital (or Lake of the Goddess) lies inside Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park and is an important habitat for birds such as the Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcyon capensis), Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Ruddy-breasted crake (Porzana fusca) and Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). It is also a regular stopover for migrating birds. Devital Lake covers some 70,000 square metres, including marshy wetlands, but only half is clear water today. The lake has been invaded by Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).
The Water Hyacinth, a native of South
America, in the wrong environment is among the worlds most damaging
plants. Devital's colony cannot be utilized commercially because access is
through relatively undisturbed tracts of the Chitwan Park, famous for its rich
variety of wildlife. While the Water Hyacinth flourishes and increases, Devital's water levels decline and other plants vital to wildlife suffocate.
Water Hyacinth cannot be eradicated permanently. The only way to control its damaging spread is to cut it by hand and remove it by canoe. The task is labour intensive and must be performed at least once a year. Funds are constantly needed to keep Devital a clear and healthy habitat for its birds, fish and reptiles.