Gharial

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) gets its name from the ghara like nose of males, used to make mating calls. Gharials are the most aquatic crocodilians in the world, they only come out of the water for basking and nesting. Their diet mostly consists of fish. Gharials were once common throughout the Indian subcontinent but in the last century their population decreased rapidly and they were declared extinct throughout much of their former range including Pakistan. In May 2023 a gharial was spotted in Kasur and since then more have been recorded. Now a gharial sanctuary has been created in Punjab and a habitat wide fishing ban is there to protect these majestic animals.