Morena's Devri sanctuary breaches century mark as rare Batagur turtles also thrive in captive breeding program

The Devri Gharial Rehabilitation Centre in Morena recorded a significant milestone Wednesday morning when 29 hatchlings emerged from eggs collected earlier this season. The batch pushes the facility's cumulative count to 99 gharial juveniles since breeding season began—a substantial jump from last year's figures.

Eggs from Bareuli Ghat yield results

The eggs that hatched Wednesday originated from Bareuli Ghat along the Chambal River, where forest department teams conduct seasonal collections. An earlier batch of 70 eggs had already hatched successfully at the sanctuary's dedicated hatchery unit. Officials said another 95 eggs collected from Babu Singh Ki Gher—a critical nesting site—remain under incubation and are expected to hatch within the coming weeks.

Rare turtle species flourish alongside

Beyond the gharial population, the sanctuary recorded 18 births of the Batagur turtle species, a critically endangered reptile endemic to the Chambal River ecosystem. The simultaneous success of both species underscores the centre's growing capacity as a regional breeding hub for endangered reptiles.

All newborns remain under quarantine protocols as standard precaution against infection and to monitor early development. The sanctuary maintains controlled temperature conditions inside the hatchery to optimize hatching rates—a practice that has proven effective year after year.

Annual collection targets sustained

Forest authorities follow established protocols that allow the collection of approximately 200 eggs annually from the Chambal River. In early May this year, field teams secured the seasonal haul and transported them to the facility. The staggered hatching pattern—with batches emerging over several weeks—distributes labour demands across the sanctuary's small team and reduces stress on newly hatched juveniles.

Officials confirm all juveniles healthy

Divisional Forest Officer Harishchandra Bagel confirmed Wednesday that all 99 gharial hatchlings and 18 turtle juveniles are in sound condition. "Each newborn is being monitored closely. The remaining eggs are progressing on schedule," Bagel said, adding that the centre expects to complete the current season's hatching within the next 10 to 14 days.

The Batagur species, which inhabits the Chambal predominantly, has seen its wild population decline sharply over the past two decades due to illegal poaching, habitat loss, and water management issues. Captive breeding initiatives like those at Devri provide crucial genetic insurance for the species' long-term survival.

Building towards reintroduction goals

The steady production of hatchlings feeds into a broader reintroduction program aimed at bolstering wild populations along stretches of the Chambal. Once juveniles reach a certain size and demonstrate survival competencies, they are gradually moved to larger ponds before eventual release into protected river sections.

The sanctuary's success this season reflects improved husbandry protocols adopted after consultations with reptile biologists. Temperature regulation, substrate composition, and hygiene standards have all been refined based on previous season observations—changes that appear to have yielded measurable results in hatchling survival rates.

Forest officials anticipate completing documentation and final assessments by early July, after which the next phase of juvenile rearing will begin in earnest.