15 Gharials to be released in Beas belt to boost tourism

CHANDIGARH: Punjab government on Tuesday announced that 15 Gharials will be released in the Beas belt as part of its plan to make it a habitat of the species.

The state government is trying to make Beas Belt, near Harike Patan, a habitat of Gharials - the last surviving species of the family Gavialidae - which will promote the area as a major tourist destination, an official spokesperson of Wildlife Department today said.

Experts from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWFN), an NGO have planned to release Gharials in February-March next year near Karmowal village which has ample water bodies with sand banks thereby making it suitable for being developed as habitat for the species, he said.

They will be kept under close watch, the Spokesperson said, adding that more Gharials will be released depending upon the success of the initial phase.

Harike Patan water bodies have 15 Dolphins, besides having various varieties of Wild Boars, Cat and Fish making this region a perfect site for promoting and developing wildlife, the Spokesperson added.