Categories: Science

Gharial entangled in fishing net rescued by Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoo after many attempts

<p>
<strong>With the help of fishermen, the officials of the Forest Department rescued a gharial whose nose was entangled in a fishing net, close to Madhusudan bridge in Cuttack, Odisha. Interestingly, this is the second time this particular reptile has got entangled.</strong></p>
<p>
The gharial which is tagged with a satellite transmitter was released on December 2 last year in river Mahanadi. In that month itself, it had got its snout stuck in a fishing net. The creature was subsequently rescued by a group of officials and experts and assisted by fishermen in the river near Narasinghpur in Athagarh.</p>
<p>
Within a week in the same month, the authorities were informed that the gharial had got entangled again in a net. The officials of Nandankanan Zoo, who are part of the gharial conservation programme in the river, were unable to get hold of the gharial to remove the net.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
Species Recovery project on Gharial NKM 185 the satellite transmitter tagged gharial finally released back to Mahanadi after removal of entangled fishing net near madhusudan Bridge cuttack. animal was sighted with net on 27th Dec and it was 3rd attempt by the team to rescue it. <a href="https://t.co/y1ILV2txVh">pic.twitter.com/y1ILV2txVh</a></p>
— NANDANKANAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK (@ddnandankanan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ddnandankanan/status/1488188695735726083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
On two occasions they came close to trapping the reptile but failed and then finally their efforts bore fruit as they managed to catch it with the help of fishermen and remove the net from its mouth on Monday.</p>
<p>
Talking to the media, Dr. Sanjeet Kumar, the Deputy Director of the Zoo said their team had a tough time in rescuing the fish-eating crocodile as it needed to be caught without being tranquilised. He added that since gharials have long snouts, they are prone to getting entangled in fishing nets due to which they get trapped and die.</p>
<p>
He said: “Apart from sensitising fishermen, our team is constantly monitoring the movement of gharials released in the river with radio and satellite transmitters.”</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/six-tiger-cubs-welcomed-in-odisha-s-nandankanan-zoo-139221.html">Six tiger cubs welcomed in Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoo</a></strong></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Baloch Yakjehti Committee releases documentary to honour Karima Baloch’s legacy

On the 4th death anniversary of human rights activist Karima Baloch, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee…

53 minutes ago

EAM Jaishankar to visit US from December 24-29

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the US from December 24-29 to discuss key…

2 hours ago

Balochistan: Medical students protest campus closure, security crackdown

Students at the Bolan Medical College (BMC) in Balochistan's Quetta entered the 27th day of…

3 hours ago

Climate change, health risks escalate amid surge in PoGB deforestation

The intensifying cutting of trees for firewood in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) is not only worsening…

4 hours ago

India’s retired judges, bureaucrats call for “immediate end” to attacks on minorities in open letter to Bangladesh

A group of retired judges, bureaucrats, Army officials and other civil society members have penned…

4 hours ago

Israel, Slovakia sign historic USD 582 million deal to boost Air Defense capabilities

Israel and Slovakia signed a 2 billion shekel (USD 582 million) agreement on Monday to…

5 hours ago