January 3:  A total of 265 crocodiles and three dolphins were found in Narayani and Rapti rivers that flow through the Chitwan National Park.

During a survey, 113 crocodiles including three male crocodiles were spotted in Narayani River while 152 including 3 male crocodiles were seen in Rapti River, according to Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, Information Officer of the Park.

The survey was conducted by 10 employees of the Park and the National Trust for Nature Conservation from December 17 to 31 in 2023, said Tiwari.

The team also recorded three dolphins in these rivers during the survey, he added. He shared that male crocodiles were brought from Bardia district and released to these two rivers in 2074 BS due to the lack of male crocodiles in the river.

A reproduction centre has been established in the Park to protect and propagate the nearly extinct Ghadiyal crocodile.

Protection of Ghadiyal crocodile has become challenging lately due to human encroachment on rivers, trapping them into fishing nets and illegal extraction of stone and aggregates. (RSS)