🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Environmental flow management seeks to mimic natural river cycles to protect ecosystems.
Sudden water releases from upstream dams can inundate sandbanks where gharials have laid eggs. Because nests are dug into dry-season substrates, unexpected rises in river level submerge embryos before hatching. Entire clutches can be lost within hours. Unlike gradual seasonal flooding, regulated releases may not align with natural reproductive timing. The mismatch between breeding cycles and artificial hydrology increases risk. Females cannot relocate eggs once buried. Water management decisions upstream therefore dictate reproductive success downstream.
💥 Impact (click to read)
The vulnerability window during incubation is prolonged and absolute. Eggs cannot survive extended submersion. Even partial flooding alters temperature and oxygen availability within nests. Repeated seasonal losses compound over years, reducing recruitment.
Integrating ecological flow schedules into dam operations can mitigate this risk. Conservation requires coordination between wildlife authorities and water managers. Without synchronization, infrastructure undermines reproduction silently. A century-old predator becomes hostage to modern hydrological timing.
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