Bharatpur, July 31 -- Gharial population is under threat due to overfishing in various rivers and streams in Chitwan, conservationists say.
Bed Bahadur Khadka, assistant conservation officer at Chitwan National Park, said that around 100 people living near the park have fishing licence.
"Seven Gharials in Rapti River and two in Narayani River died in the last fiscal year after getting caught in fishing traps set up by locals," Khadka said.
Among the nine dead, eight were baby Gharials that had been released into rivers by Gharial Breeding Centre in Chitwan, park officials say.
Fishermen usually kill baby Gharials that get trapped in their fishing nets; as for adult Gharials, they are released back into the water still entangled in nets,...