In a major conservation success, a critically endangered gharial measuring more than 12 feet has been safely rescued after spending nearly five months in Rajasthan’s Indira Gandhi Canal system. The reptile was captured during a joint operation by the Rajasthan and Punjab Forest Departments, with support from wildlife experts and field staff.

The gharial was rescued on July 27 from the Mohangarh Minor of the Indira Gandhi Canal in Jaisalmer district. After the successful operation, it was transported to Chhatbir Zoo in Mohali, Punjab, where veterinarians are conducting a detailed health assessment, rehabilitation, and acclimatisation before it is released into the Beas River Conservation Reserve.

Forest officials had been tracking the reptile for months after it was believed to have travelled through the extensive canal network from Punjab into Rajasthan. The rescue required careful planning and coordination to ensure the safety of both the animal and the rescue team.

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is one of the world’s rarest crocodilian species. Native to the river systems of the Indian subcontinent, it faces threats from habitat loss, river modification, fishing activities, and declining nesting sites. Conservationists say the successful rescue highlights the importance of interstate cooperation in protecting India’s threatened wildlife.