Reported by Sandeep Sharma
Guwahati: The repeated sighting of a critically endangered gharial in the Burapahar Range of Kaziranga National Park has raised fresh hopes for wildlife conservation efforts in Assam.
The first sighting this year was reported on April 26, when forest staff on patrol spotted a gharial basking on a sand bar near the Maite APC area along the confluence of the Difolu and Brahmaputra rivers. Officials said the reptile was seen in an area known for sandy riverbanks and calm confluences, habitats considered ideal for feeding, basking and breeding.
In the days that followed, several more sightings were reported from the same location, supported by photographic evidence. The latest sighting was recorded on May 8 by tourist guide Shishukanta Nath in the Burapahar Range, drawing wide attention on social media.
Reacting to the development, the Assam Chief Minister’s Office posted on social media that the gharial, once believed to have vanished from Assam’s river systems, has now been sighted in Kaziranga, calling it a remarkable moment for wildlife conservation.
Wildlife experts said the sightings are significant as the gharial, scientifically known as Gavialis gangeticus, is among the world’s most endangered crocodilian species. Recognised by its long and narrow snout, the fish-eating reptile has suffered a drastic population decline over the decades, with only an estimated 650 to 1,000 mature breeding individuals surviving in the wild.
The species is now mainly found in river systems linked to the National Chambal Sanctuary spread across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, along with parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Conservationists believe the return of the gharial to the Brahmaputra landscape reflects improving river ecology and sustained protection measures in Assam’s wetlands and protected areas. As an apex aquatic predator, the species is considered an important indicator of river health and ecological balance.
Historical records show that gharials once inhabited several rivers across Northeast India, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. However, the species was believed to have disappeared locally after the 1950s because of habitat degradation and changes in river systems. Over the years, occasional unconfirmed sightings had surfaced from Dibru-Saikhowa, Manas and the Dikhow and Subansiri river basins.
Recent surveys conducted by the Kaziranga Park Authority in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, WWF and TSA Foundation India have documented the presence of a lone female gharial in the Brahmaputra stretch over the past few years. A 160-km river survey carried out in January 2026 along the Brahmaputra also recorded diverse aquatic wildlife and renewed discussions on possible gharial reintroduction programmes with support from Madhya Pradesh.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve Director Sonali Ghosh said the repeated sightings in the Kaziranga stretch of the Brahmaputra were encouraging and reflected the presence of intact aquatic habitats suitable for the species.
The first tourist-recorded sighting of a gharial inside the main Kaziranga National Park area in Burapahar was reported in February 2024, confirming earlier official and wildlife survey observations in the greater Kaziranga landscape.
Earlier in February 2024, after a gap of nearly 75 years, an endangered female gharial was also spotted in the Biswanath stretch of the Brahmaputra under Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, sparking excitement among wildlife enthusiasts across Assam.