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Home , Chambal River, Pinahat

International Journal of Chemical Studies 2019; 7(3): 3401-3403

P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2019; 7(3): 3401-3403 Study of temperature effect on habitat at © 2019 IJCS Received: 25-03-2019 national Gharial wildlife sanctuary, Accepted: 27-04-2019 , Vijay Upadhyay Department of Forestry, FOA & Vet. Sci, University, Vijay Upadhyay, Abhishek Raj, Brajesh K Yadav and Gautam Singh Chittorgarh, , India Dhakad

Abhishek Raj Department of Forestry, FOA & Abstract Vet. Sci, Mewar University, Study of Temperature on effect of Gharial habitat, was studied in National Chambal Gharial wildlife Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India sanctuary Pinahat (U.P.), by field survey method, from February to March 2013-14. The study was carried out in triplicate/per month by adopting the transect method and field survey in the early morning Brajesh K Yadav to noon (7:00 am to 4:00 pm). The Chambal river is very much influenced by various factor like habitats Department of Forestry, FOA & suitability and protection of their habitats. During the present survey, maximum temperature (35oC) and Vet. Sci, Mewar University, minimum temperature (230C) was recorded in the month of April and February respectively. Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India

Keywords: Gharial, Chambal wildlife sanctuary, temperature and habitat. Gautam Singh Dhakad Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture & Introduction Veterinary Science, Mewar The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a crocodilian of the family Gavialidae native to the Indian University, Chittorgarh, Subcontinent also known as the gavial the Ghariyal and the fish-eating crocodile and having Rajasthan, India record length being 6.25 m (20.5 ft). Mating occurs in December and January followed by

nesting in the dry season of March and April. The female lays up to 95 eggs in a hole in a riverside sand or silt bank, and the young hatch out in July just before the monsoon. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List and was the only surviving species of the crocodilian family Gavialidae, endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Less than 1,400 individuals survive in the wild today of which less than 200 ware breeding- [3] sized adults (Nawab et al., 2013) . Fish is the primary food of the Gharial along with insects and occasionally small animals. Due to its large size, the Gharial has no natural predators within its environment besides humans who hunt the Gharial, often for leather or meat. It is currently estimated that there are below 200 breeding adult of G. gangeticus in the wild. This represents a decline in the population of over 80% since 1940s (a time-span equating to

roughly 3 generations), and qualified it for Critically Endangered (CR) listing in the IUCN Red List (Choudhury et al., 2007) [1]. National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi) tri-state protected area in northern India for the critically endangered Gharial (small crocodiles), the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered

river dolphin. Located on the Chambal River near the tri-point of Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, it was first declared in Madhya Pradesh in 1978 and now constitutes a long narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states. Within the sanctuary the pristine Chambal River cuts through mazes of ravines and hills with many sandy beaches. Their distribution was depending on availability of deep water pools Permanand, (2010). The

Chambal river is very much influenced by various factor like habitats suitability and protection their habitats. Their distribution depending on availability of deep water pols. Which are present in many zones maximum in northern part at the Sanctuary (Taigor and Rao, 2014) [5]. These area provide good habitats for nesting of crocodiles, Tortes and birds (Taigor and Rao, 2010) [4]. In the lieu of the above this paper represents the temperature impact on Gharial

Correspondence habitat, its distribution which reflects its temperature sensitivity and metabolic activity. Vijay Upadhyay Department of Forestry, FOA & Materials & methods Vet. Sci, Mewar University, National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India a 5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi) tri-state protected area in northern India for the critically ~ 3401 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies

endangered Gharial (small crocodiles), the red-crowned roof proceeds from each Chambal Safari goes towards sustaining turtle and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. The sanctuary this conservation programme. The foundation regularly is located in between 15015'-26030’N (latitude) and 76040'- undertakes environmental awareness campaigns in the 78010’E (longitude) on the Chambal river near the tri-point of villages around the sanctuary. Numerous small projects Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The average including check dams and reforestation initiatives, have also temperature in the area ranges from 40oC to 48oC with the been carried out by the Foundation. average rainfall of 800 mm. The study was carried out in triplicate/per month by adopting Location map of the study area is represented in Figure 1. The the following approach in the early morning to noon (7:00 am selected site Pinahat (Formerly Shreenagar) is a town and a to 4:00 pm). Illustration for Gharial population different air Nagar Panchayat in in the Indian state of Uttar temperature is shown in fig 2. Pradesh and situated on the Bank of Chambal River (The 1. All behavior assessment of Gharial was done in given Ghadiyal Sanctuary) On 55 km distance from Agra. There are time according to the prepared performa. a. 1st visit– In many adventures to attract tourists in Pinahat. The distance February b. 2nd visit – In March c. 3rd visit– In April between Pinahat and Chambal is only 2 km. The Chambal 2. Assessment had been done by line transect method Conservation Foundation is actively committed to protecting (through work) within 3 km distance (westernly) per day. the pristine environment of the Chambal region. Part of the

Fig 1: Location map of the study area

Results and Discussion (optimum temperature). Therefore, temperature plays a key During the present survey, maximum temperature (35oC) and role on the population structure, metabolic activity, minimum temperature (23oC) was recorded in the month of reproductive functions and its survival in Chambal Wildlife April and February respectively (fig 2). It was observed that Sanctuary. Gharial did not tolerate the temperature beyond 35oC

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Fig 2: Illustration for Gharial population different air temperature at NCGWLSP

Conclusion The ranges of temperature from 25oC to 30oC are most suitable for survival the Gharial population in natural habitats of Chambal Sanctuary. Efforts to restore the population through artificial breeding have much to do for maintaining present population. However, declining population, despite of several Gharial releases, should be addressed through more detailed scientific study.

Acknowledgement The author is very thankful to Mr. Jyoti Sharma, Forest Ranger, at National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, Pinhat, Agra for giving the valuable time during the study.

References 1. Choudhury BC, Singh LAK, Rao RJ, Basu D, Sharma RK, Hussain SA. Gavialis gangeticus. In IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version, 2007, 2009. 2. Meshram PK. Diversity of some fauna in National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, India. Biodiversitas. 2010; 11(4):211-215. 3. Nawab A, Basu DJ, Yadav SK, Gautam. Impact of Mass Mortility of Gharial Gavialis gangeticus (Gmelin, 1789) on its Conservation in the Chambal River in Rajasthan, 2013. 4. Taigor SR, Rao RJ. Habitat Features of Aquatic Animals In The National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, India. 2010; 1(2):409-414. 5. Taigor SR, Rao RJ. Assessment of potential suitable habitats stretch of fresh water Crocodile, Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) (Gmelin 1789) in the Chambal River, Madhya Pradesh, India. 2014; 4(4):544-550.

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