<p>The eggs of the gharials, members of the crocodile family, were collected from the wild and hatched artificially at the crocodile research farm.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This year we had collected 79 eggs for artificial hatching. Much to our surprise, 63 eggs hatched," said Prasanna Kumar Behera, divisional forest officer of the wildlife sanctuary.</p>.<p><br />"We collect eggs and hatch them artificially every year but this year we have achieved the highest success rate so far," he added.</p>.<p><br />The baby crocodiles would be reared for a couple of years before they are released in the wild.</p>.<p>In 1975, the "rear and release" project to save gharials from extinction was launched with assistance from the UN Development Programme (UNDP). </p>.<p><br />Since its inception, the number of gharials has been growing at a steady pace. In 1995, the total population was 511. It rose to 1,285 in 2001. According to latest census, the number of gharials is 1,572.</p>
<p>The eggs of the gharials, members of the crocodile family, were collected from the wild and hatched artificially at the crocodile research farm.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This year we had collected 79 eggs for artificial hatching. Much to our surprise, 63 eggs hatched," said Prasanna Kumar Behera, divisional forest officer of the wildlife sanctuary.</p>.<p><br />"We collect eggs and hatch them artificially every year but this year we have achieved the highest success rate so far," he added.</p>.<p><br />The baby crocodiles would be reared for a couple of years before they are released in the wild.</p>.<p>In 1975, the "rear and release" project to save gharials from extinction was launched with assistance from the UN Development Programme (UNDP). </p>.<p><br />Since its inception, the number of gharials has been growing at a steady pace. In 1995, the total population was 511. It rose to 1,285 in 2001. According to latest census, the number of gharials is 1,572.</p>
