Critically Endangered Gharial Reappears in Assam's Kaziranga After Years

A critically endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) has been spotted in a waterbody within Kaziranga National Park, Assam, after being presumed absent from the state's river systems for years, forest officials confirmed on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The sighting, captured in an 18-second video by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), marks a significant development in regional wildlife conservation.

The reptile, identified by its distinctive long, slender snout and fish-eating habits, was observed from a motor-powered boat within the park’s network of rivers and wetlands. The CMO described the event as a rare and encouraging sign of ecological recovery, underscoring years of habitat protection and species preservation initiatives in Assam.

The gharial, native to the northern Indian subcontinent, is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss, river pollution, and declining fish stocks. Its reappearance in Kaziranga signals a potential resurgence of viable populations in historically occupied areas.

Forest department authorities are conducting further surveys to determine whether the individual is part of a surviving remnant population or has migrated from neighboring river systems. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.