Chitwan National Park has initiated the search for gharial crocodile nests in the Rapti River starting from March 14. Following the nest search, egg collection will be carried out to begin the incubation process at the gharial breeding center. This year, the park has decided to focus exclusively on the Rapti River for this activity.
The search for gharial nests along the Rapti River is underway. Every year, Chitwan National Park conducts nest searches in rivers during March and April. According to Avinash Thapa Magar, the park’s information officer, the nest search began on March 14 and will continue until approximately April 23. Two members of the Bote community have been engaged for this task.
After locating the nests, staff will be deployed again to collect eggs. He stated, “Currently, we are identifying the nests; after this, egg collection will commence.” The collected eggs will be transported to the park’s gharial breeding center where the hatching process will begin. While in previous years nests were searched for both in the Rapti and Narayani Rivers, this year the search is planned only for the Rapti River.
