Gharial Basking — Chambal River Mugger Congregation
44,102.85 ¥
A male gharial with its characteristic pot-shaped nasal ghara boss photographed at the Chambal River — the critically endangered fish-eating crocodilian at full length on the sandbank, surrounded by females and juveniles in a basking congregation.
Description
The gharial — India’s critically endangered, uniquely fish-specialized crocodilian — was reduced to fewer than 200 individuals by 1970 through hunting and habitat loss, and the Chambal River in Rajasthan now hosts the largest wild population of approximately 600 animals. The gharial’s narrow snout — adapted entirely for fish capture — distinguishes it from all other crocodilians, and the male’s characteristic ghara (the enlarged nasal boss that gives the species its name) is a sexually selected feature unique to breeding males. This image captures a 4-metre adult male in the communal basking congregation typical of the Chambal in winter, surrounded by females and sub-adults of various sizes. The ghara — a hollow nasal protuberance that amplifies the male’s vocalisations — is clearly visible as a fleshy dome above the nostril tip. The Chambal River’s sandy banks and clear water are visible in the background.
