Where the wild things are
Spotting one, however, is a matter of patience and luck. Often, you see it before you hear it—a sleek arc above the water, followed by a soft splash, before it vanishes into the muddy depths.
These blind, echo-locating mammals are among the world’s rarest cetaceans (a group of aquatic mammals, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises). Once abundant in the Ganges and its tributaries, their numbers have plummeted due to pollution, damming, and declining river health. With fewer than 6,500 dolphins left, Katarniaghat remains one of their final refuges.
On the river’s banks, muggers bask in the sun. In contrast, the gharial is a picture of prehistoric grace. With an elongated snout lined with needle-like teeth, it is built for speed and precision, snatching fish with swift, sideways movements.
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