Range: Northern India

Habitat: Fresh water rivers and streams

Size: A very large crocodilian the Gharial may reach 15 feet as an adult male.  Females tend to be 8-10 feet as adults.

Status: Critically endangered.  Estimated to be less than 5,000 in the wild, with the vast majority being reintroduced farm raised crocodiles.

Rain Forest Facts:  While the future for this crocodilian is uncertain at best, the past has been very rocky.  Virtually wiped out by the late 1960's the Gavial faced eminent extinction without immediate intervention.  Several adults were captured and placed into farming facilities.  The relatively high clutch count of large females coupled with proper husbandry techniques produced a viable breeding population.  From this initial attempt to save the animal several other breeding facilities have become involved.  In total over 5,000 young crocs have been returned to protected areas in the wild.  

India is one of the most densely populated countries on earth with an exploding population.  This human pressure is resulting in unparalleled loss of habitat.  Additionally irrational fears that the Gavial is a "Man Eater" have resulted in heavy losses of wild stock.   The snout of this species of croc is suited for hunting primarily fish and other aquatic species such as turtles.  The probability is that rumors and legends have been passed down from generation to generation about the crocodilian.  The crocodiles  large size coupled with close proximity to human populations appears to have fueled suspicion on the largely uneducated populations of India.

The Indian Gharial produces the largest egg by weight and size of any living crocodilian species.