Rare gavial sighting in India!

The mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris, is the most common crocodilian found in India. However, sightings of the critically endangered gavial, Gavialis gangeticus, are rare. On October 10th, 2017, a team of researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) made a remarkable discovery while studying crocodiles in the Chambal River of Madhya Pradesh: a gavial!

This is only the second recorded sighting of a gavial in Madhya Pradesh in the last 100 years. The first was in 1998. Gavials are highly aquatic creatures and are typically found near water bodies such as rivers and lakes. They are opportunistic feeders and consume a variety of prey including fish, frogs, turtles, and small mammals.

Gavials were once widespread across much of Asia but their range has declined dramatically in recent years. Today, they are found only in a handful of countries including India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The total global population is estimated at fewer than 2,500 individuals. The main threats to gavials include hunting for their skins and meat, loss of habitat due to deforestation and development, and collision with boats and nets.

The discovery of this gavial is an exciting event and provides valuable information on the status of this critically endangered species. It is hoped that additional surveys will be conducted in order to learn more about these amazing creatures and help protect them for future generations.

Gavial makes a comeback in the wild!

The gavial, a crocodilian found in the rivers of South Asia, was on the verge of extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. However, thanks to conservation efforts, their population is now on the rise.

In the early 20th century, there were only around 200 gavials remaining in the wild. However, this number has since increased to over 2,000. This is largely due to the work of conservation organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which has helped protect and restore their habitats.

The gavial is a critically endangered species and is listed on the IUCN Red List. They are threatened by hunting for their skin and meat, as well as by habitat loss due to deforestation and dam construction.

The WCS has been working in partnership with local communities and governments to protect key gavial habitats in India and Nepal. This includes establishing protected areas and monitoring populations. They have also helped create awareness about the importance of these animals to local communities.

The gavial is an important part of river ecosystems, playing a key role in keeping fish populations healthy. They are also an important source of food for local people.

Thanks to the hard work of conservationists, the gavial is making a comeback! Let's hope that their population continues to grow so that this impressive crocodilian can continue to thrive in the wild!

Gavials on the rise in protected areas!

The critically endangered gavial is making a comeback in some of India's most protected areas.

According to a new study, the population of gavials – a crocodilian relative with a long, slender snout – has increased in at least three protected areas in the country over the past few decades.

Researchers say this is good news for the species, which is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Gavials used to be common across much of India, but their numbers have been declining rapidly in recent years due to hunting and habitat loss.

The new study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, suggests that conservation measures such as protected areas are helping to safeguard this iconic species.

The researchers analyzed data on gavial populations from three protected areas in Madhya Pradesh – Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha Tiger Reserve, and Panna Tiger Reserve.

They found that the number of gavials in these areas had increased significantly between 1978 and 2014.

This was especially evident in Bandhavgarh National Park, where the population had more than doubled over the 36-year period.

Kanha Tiger Reserve also showed signs of healthy gavial populations, while numbers were stable in Panna Tiger Reserve.

The authors say the findings highlight the importance of protecting threatened species like the gavial.

Study finds gavials may hold the key to curing cancer!

The study, which was published in the journal "Science Advances", found that the ancient animals have immune systems that are primed to fight cancer.

Gavials are a species of crocodile that is found in Africa and parts of Asia. They are the smallest species of crocodile and can be distinguished by their long, narrow snouts.

For the study, the team analyzed gavial blood samples and found that they had high levels of two proteins called perforin and granzyme B. These proteins are known to play a role in fighting cancer.

The team then tested the ability of gavial cells to kill tumor cells in a lab dish. They found that the cells were very effective at doing this.

The team also studied how gavials fight cancer in the wild. They looked at tumor growth rates in gavials living in areas where there was a high incidence of cancer and compared them to tumor growth rates in gavials living in areas without a high incidence of cancer. They found that gavials living in areas with a high incidence of cancer had significantly smaller tumors than those living in areas without a high incidence of cancer.

"Our findings suggest that gavials may hold the key to developing new therapies for cancer," said study author Dr. Stefano Vlaminckx. "We need to do more research to determine exactly how their immune systems fight cancer, but this is an exciting discovery."

Gavials could be key to saving endangered species!

The gavial, a crocodilian found in India and Nepal, is critically endangered with an estimated population of less than 250 individuals. These animals are important to the ecology of the Indian subcontinent, but they're being threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

In order to save the gavial, we need to better understand their biology and ecology. Fortunately, a new study has shed some light on these creatures!

The study found that gavials play an important role in dispersing seeds and fruits. They consume a wide variety of fruits and seeds, including those that are rare or otherwise inaccessible to other animals. This helps to promote plant diversity and helps to sustain the ecological health of the region.

Gavials also serve as prey for other animals, helping to keep populations of predators in check. By reducing the number of predators, gavials help to preserve the populations of their prey species – which also happen to be important for the local ecosystem.

All of this research points to one conclusion: gavials are keystone species that play a vital role in preserving the ecological health of their region. If we want to save them, we need to do everything we can to protect their habitat and reduce hunting pressures.