Gharials reintroduced in Harike sanctuary

The state government has released 10 ‘gharials’ in the Beas river at the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary in Gagrewal village near Raiya. In 2005, the Punjab State Wildlife Board had submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to introduce gharials in the river. After an extensive survey, WWF experts had recommended that the Harike sanctuary and its immediate catchment areas were the best sites for releasing these animals. The Forest Department with the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) brought the gharials from Madhya Pradesh’s Chambal river and also trained local officials to handle them and monitor their activity in future.

Reason for introduction:

• It was important to reintroduce gharials in the area to complete the food chain.
• The last-surviving species of ‘gavialidae’ family needs to be preserved

Controversy:
The Kisan Sangharsh Committee has demanded compensation for land along the river from Baba Bakala via Harike Pattan up to Hussainiwala. The gharials might be harmless to people but their presence caused fear among farmers which prevented them from tilling their land in the catchment areas of Harike Pattan, denying them the right to livelihood
 

By: Dr. Vivek Rana