Gharial
GharialGharialGharialGharial

Gharial

Gavialis gangeticus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Chitwan National Park
146 Verified records at Chitwan National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian in the family Gavialidae and among the longest of all living crocodilians. Mature females are 2.6 to 4.5 m (8.5 to 14.8 ft) long, and males 3 to 6 m (9.8 to 19.7 ft). Adult males have a distinct boss at the end of the snout, which resembles an earthenware pot known as a ghara, hence the name "gharial". The gharial is well adapted to catching fish because of its long, narrow snout and 110 sharp, interlocking teeth. The gharial probably evolved in the northern Indian subcontinent. Fossil gharial remains were excavated in Pliocene deposits in the Sivalik Hills and the Narmada River valley. Wikipedia →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a Gharial sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 146 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

70–80
Jan
80–90
Feb
70–80
Mar
70–80
Apr
70–80
May
70–80
Jun
80–90
Jul
60–70
Aug
70–80
Sep
70–80
Oct
70–80
Nov
70–80
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
70–80%
2 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
30–40%
3 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
4 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Gharial in Chitwan National Park?

About 77% of wildlife watchers report a Gharial sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 146 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Gharial in Chitwan National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Gharial in Chitwan National Park in our monthly data.

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