Neptune's Dolphins

 

This strange crocodilian has been placed in his own family of Gavialidae. His name “Gharial” is derived from the Hindi word for pot (“ghara”). At the top of the gharial’s nose is a boss or protuberance, which looks like a pot. He uses this boss to hum and make bubbles, which is how he attracts Female Gharials to join his harem. It makes a loud buzzing sound for them to respond to.

 

This distinctive reptile is close to extinction. By 1975, fewer than seventy gharials lived in the wild. (Today, there are about three hundred.) Because of pollution and habitat destruction, the gharial’s recovery has been problematic since then. Meanwhile, the Indian government has continued various measures to save the gharial. Massive sanctuaries have been created, and local peoples recruited to aid in their effort to save him. A concerted effort by many people worldwide is fighting to keep the gharial from disappearing from the earth.

 

The Gharial is the sacred vehicle of Ganga, of the Ganges River. (Note 2) He is the sacred animal of the river. Seeing a gharial at the river is a sign of good fortune and blessings.

 

In the seals of the Indus Valley civilization, the Gharial oversees Tiger, Elephant, Water Buffalo and Rhinoceros, the Four Directions. They consider the Gharial the “Master of the Animals.” Although the Gharial lives in the waters of the Indus, He is worshipped as a sky divinity.

 

The lesson that the gharial teaches is to never give up hope. Always fight for the future as those aiding this reptile have. Instead of accepting doom, the gharial soldiers on to gain purchase for his existence.

 

Notes:

 

Note 1. The difference between the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and the false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) is where they live. The false gharial lives in Indonesia and Malaysia, while true gharials live in northern India.

 

Note 2. The Makara, which is a composite sea creature with a gharial head is also a Vehicle of Ganga.