The locals of Chambal region are thronging the Katannipura-Barolighat area of Chambal river flowing through Veerpur Tehsil of Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh to witness the springing plays of newly born gharial babies numbering 1500. The newly developed gharial breeding centre at this Ghat continues to be a centre of attraction with the birth of nearly 1500 baby gharials in the last one fortnight. The local villagers continue to visit the Ghat to watch the interesting playful activities of these newly born baby gharials.A fencing has been erected on the bank of the Chambal river for safe movement of the newly born baby gharials in this gharial project developed in the Raghunathpur area. The locals including the children are deriving immense pleasure from the scene of baby gharials jumping into river water from the fencing. At this new gharial breeding centre shifted recently from Devari of Morena to Katannipura-Barolighat, Chambal, as many as 46 female gharials have given birth to 1500 baby gharials during the period between May 17 and May 30,2011.
Probably, for the first time when Sheopur district has made such major achievement of gharial rearing. The female gharials had laid 52 eggs in the sand at 46 places in an area of nearly 2 km at Katannipura ghat in Chambal region between March 14 and March 27. After a gap of 60-65 days, baby gharials came out from the shell of eggs.
The entire staff of the gharial project including ranger Dr. R.K.Sharma and Forest Guard Shri Jagdish Batham are giving top priority to taking care of these newly born baby gharials. It may be mentioned that the gharial is regarded as a very simple and harmless water animal of crocodile species. Gharial catches fish for its food needs. The Forest Guard Shri Batham says that in his life time he has never heard of any incident about the attack of gharial on human being or other animal.