National Chambal Sanctuary is an important natural heritage of the country: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav
Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a global center of wildlife tourism. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government is determined to develop tourism in Morena region. The Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to get the status of Tiger Reserve to Madhav National Park in future and said that we are capable of protecting all types of wildlife in the forests of Madhya Pradesh and our efforts will continue in this direction. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav shared this important information in a discussion with the media after releasing 10 gharials (9 female and 1 male) in their natural habitat in Chambal river from Deori Gharial Center in Morena. On this occasion, Assembly Speaker Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Khajuraho MP Shri V.D. Sharma and Forest Department officials were present with him on the boat.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Chambal Sanctuary is the natural wealth of our country. Rare species are being conserved here. These species are being harmed due to the ill-effects of changing climate. Madhya Pradesh has always been ready for the promotion and conservation of species important for biodiversity. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav visited the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary located in Morena district and also observed the arrangements of the sanctuary and the facilities available for tourists here. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav saw the gharials closely. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav visited the Chambal Safari and took information from the Forest Department about gharial conservation.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has expressed the infinite possibilities of forest tourism in Madhya Pradesh. He said that the government is working on several important schemes to promote wildlife tourism in the entire state including the Chambal region. There is a strong possibility of rehabilitation of not only gharials but also dolphins in the Chambal sanctuary. Work is also going on in this direction through the forest department.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav took important information related to the rearing and conservation of gharials from the officials of the Forest Department and the employees of the Gharial Sanctuary. Quoting the officials of the Forest Department, the Chief Minister said that the gharials released in the Chambal river today were preserved in the form of eggs in the year 2022. With proper care and favorable environment, baby gharials hatched from these eggs. The sex of the gharial eggs was determined by giving artificial temperature to them.
Not only in India, but in the entire world, the maximum number of gharials are found in the Chambal river. There are about 3000 gharials in the world. 85 percent of these are found only in the Chambal river. In Madhya Pradesh, this area of the Chambal river was recognized as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1978. The gharial grow and release program was started in the National Chambal Sanctuary Morena in 1981. At that time, the number of gharials in the Chambal river was less than 100. Under the said program, two hundred eggs are brought from the Chambal river every year to the gharial rehabilitation center in Deori and the gharial cubs are reared in the Deori center and released in the natural habitat when they are 120 centimeters tall.
According to the Morena Forest Department, every year a survey of aquatic animals is done in the Chambal Sanctuary in the month of February. In the 2024 census, a total of 2456 gharials were found in the Chambal Sanctuary. There were 70 gharials of 2024 batch, 95 of 2023 batch, 85 of 2022 batch, 38 of 2021 batch, thus a total of 288 gharials at the Gharial Rehabilitation Center. This year the Forest Department has received permission to release 108 gharials in Chambal. Out of which 4 males, 21 females total 25 on 13 January 2025, 2 males, 30 females total 32 on 19 January 2025, 10 males, 11 females total 21 on 29 January 2025, 12 males, 8 females total 20 on 6 February 2025, 98 gharials have been released so far this year.
For the tourists fond of wildlife tourism, Chambal Boat Safari has been arranged here, which has now become quite famous.
