Gharial nests in the rivers of Kailali
In several Kailali rivers, there have been reports of rare gharials getting ready to deposit their eggs. They have initiated the construction of test nests in the Karnali, Mohana, and Patharaiya rivers. Monitoring along banks of all 3 rivers has revealed 16 nests, including one with eggs. Karnali River had the highest number of test nests. Three nests have been found in the Mohana River in the Bhajani Municipality, close to Himmatpur Ghat and Halona Baba Ghat. Only one nest was found in Himmatpur.
3 test nests have also been discovered in the Patharaiya River. In Kusum Ghat, near the Mohana River, a mugger crocodile was building its nest. For the last three years, the Gharials have been mating and raising their young in Kailali. Three gharial nests in the Karnali and two in the Patharaiya River gave birth to young last year. Five nests produced 124 live hatchlings. The eggs from one nest in the Patharaiya River did not hatch. After producing forty eggs and burrowing, female gharials return to the sea when they are nine or ten years old. While eggs hatch on their own in 60 – 90 days, mothers care for and rear their children.
