Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) and freshwater dolphins are currently raising their young in the Karnali River and its tributaries, including the Patharaiya and Mohana rivers. Conservationist Bhojraj Dhungana confirmed that baby gharials have been spotted in these rivers since early Asar.
Although the Nepali government has designated protected breeding zones for gharials in Chitwan and Bardiya National Parks, these endangered crocodilians are now breeding naturally in the wild without any human intervention. According to Dhungana, gharials have been laying eggs and raising hatchlings in this region for the past four years, with successful nesting again observed this year in the Karnali, Patharaiya, and Mohana rivers.
Alongside gharials, freshwater dolphins — listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — have also been spotted with their calves in the same waters. These rare mammals, which prefer clean water for breeding, are known to raise their young in the calm tributaries of the Karnali during the monsoon season.
“Adult dolphins first appear, followed by their calves. We’re now seeing about six to seven dolphin calves every two to three days in the Mohana River,” Dhungana noted, adding that the calves are likely born in the river itself.
These dolphins are part of the Platanista gangetica species, found only in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Conservationist Bijaya Raj Shrestha explained that the dolphins migrate to Karnali’s tributaries during the monsoon and typically remain there for over three months before returning to the main river.
The region offers an ideal breeding environment, thanks to its clean waters, abundant food sources such as fish and mollusks, and multiple river confluences. Along with gharials and dolphins, marsh crocodiles (mugger crocodiles) are also reported to be raising young in the same rivers, making this a thriving hub for aquatic biodiversity.
