🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Gharial clutches can contain up to 60 eggs, making nest loss particularly devastating.
Female gharials lay their eggs in deep nests dug into sandy riverbanks during the dry season. Incubation lasts roughly 70 to 90 days depending on temperature conditions. During this period, eggs remain vulnerable to predation, flooding, and human disturbance. Unlike some crocodilians, gharial mothers do not transport hatchlings in their mouths due to the narrow snout. Instead, hatchlings must make their own way to water after emergence. Any disruption during incubation can wipe out dozens of potential survivors at once. The nesting strategy relies on stable seasonal rhythms.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Open sand incubation exposes embryos to both natural and artificial threats. A sudden dam release can flood nests overnight. Sand mining operations may unknowingly destroy entire clutches. Even subtle compaction changes can alter oxygen flow within the nest. Reproductive success hinges on environmental predictability that is increasingly rare.
The prolonged incubation period magnifies risk accumulation. Each additional day is another opportunity for disturbance. Conservation programs often guard nesting beaches to prevent losses. Without these interventions, entire breeding seasons can fail. Ninety days of exposure determine whether the species persists another generation.
💬 Comments