Gharial Breeding Center | Bhaktapur

Information

Landmark: Gharial Breeding Center
City: Bhaktapur
Country: Nepal
Continent: Asia

Gharial Breeding Center, Bhaktapur, Nepal, Asia

The Gharial Breeding Center is a specialized conservation facility located within Chitwan National Park near Kasara, Nepal. It serves as a primary site for the captive breeding and rearing of the critically endangered Gavialis gangeticus before their reintroduction into Himalayan river systems.

Visual Characteristics

The center consists of a series of concrete hatching and rearing tanks filled with diverted river water. Mature gharials exhibit elongated, narrow snouts and olive-toned, armored skin, reaching lengths up to 5-6 meters. The enclosures are partitioned by age, featuring sandy basking banks and aquatic vegetation characteristic of the lowland Terai ecology.

Location & Access Logistics

The facility is situated 20km south of Bharatpur at the Chitwan National Park headquarters in Kasara. Access is primarily via unpaved park roads using 4WD vehicles or motorcycles from the tourist hub of Sauraha (approximately 30km distance). Public transport is limited to local buses from Bharatpur to the park perimeter, followed by private transport to the station.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Established in 1978 with assistance from the Frankfurt Zoological Society, the center was created to counter the rapid decline of gharial populations due to habitat loss and fishing net entanglement. It focuses on the "egg-collection and release" method, where eggs are harvested from wild riverbanks, hatched in a controlled environment, and the crocodiles are released at age five or six.

Key Highlights & Activities

Observation of the "Ghara" (bulbous nasal growth) on adult males is possible from perimeter fencing. Visitors can view various developmental stages of crocodiles, from hatchlings in shallow tanks to sub-adults in deeper pools. Educational displays provide data on the Narayani and Rapti river ecosystems.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Basic restroom facilities are available at the park headquarters. Shade is provided by thatched pavilions and indigenous trees, though walking paths between tanks are exposed. Cellular signal (4G) is intermittent depending on the carrier, and there are no food vendors inside the breeding center area; supplies must be purchased in Kasara or Sauraha.

Best Time to Visit

Optimal viewing occurs during the winter months (November to February) when gharials spend significant time basking on land to regulate body temperature. Midday (11:00 to 14:00) provides the highest visibility as crocodiles remain stationary on sandy banks. The center is open year-round, though monsoon rains (June to August) can make road access difficult.

Facts & Legends

The gharial is the only surviving member of the Gavialidae family, a lineage dating back over 40 million years. A local conservation practice involves park rangers monitoring wild nests 24 hours a day during incubation periods to prevent predation by jackals and monitor lizards before transporting eggs to this facility.