Three False Gharial Hatchlings Rescued After Hatching in West\nKalimantan<\/p>\n
Reporter<\/p>\n
September 1, 2026 | 11:37 am<\/p>\n
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and\nFisheries has rescued three newly hatched false gharials (Tomistoma\nschlegelii), an endangered freshwater crocodilian species, from a\nfishing settlement in Teredu Hamlet, Mempawah District, West\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
Head of the Pontianak Marine Management Center Syarief Iwan Taruna\nAlkadrie said in an official statement received on Monday that the\ndiscovery confirms the Mempawah Hulu River ecosystem continues to\nsupport the presence and reproduction of the rare species.<\/p>\n
He noted that false gharials in West Kalimantan had previously been\ndocumented primarily in Kapuas Hulu and Ketapang districts.<\/p>\n
The three hatchlings, known locally by the indigenous Dayak\nKanayatn\/Ahe community as \u201cBaringayong,\u201d each measure approximately 33\ncentimeters (13 inches) in length.<\/p>\n
The rescue operation was launched following reports from local\nresidents that crocodile eggs had hatched near the settlement, along\nwith indications that the animals were at risk of being trafficked.<\/p>\n
In response, the center\u2019s quick response team was deployed to secure\nthe hatchlings, gather evidence, and interview local residents.<\/p>\n
An initial remote clinical examination by a specialist veterinarian\nfound the hatchlings to be in relatively good condition. However,\nremnants of their yolk sacs were found on their abdomens, posing a\npotential risk of infection if left untreated.<\/p>\n
The hatchlings are currently receiving intensive care and are being\nkept in an incubator at the center\u2019s temporary shelter. They will remain\nthere until their physical condition stabilizes and they have fully\nrecovered.<\/p>\n
Alkadrie emphasized that the discovery provides an important data\npoint for mapping the distribution of false gharials in West Kalimantan,\nwhile also offering insights into the current condition of their\nhabitat.<\/p>\n
Environmental changes, including the degradation and fragmentation of\npeat swamps, changes in river flows, and fluctuations in the\navailability of natural prey, must be closely monitored to ensure the\nlong-term sustainability of the habitat, he added.<\/p>\n
The ministry strongly urged the public not to catch, keep, or trade\nfalse gharials. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red\nList and is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International\nTrade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).<\/p>\n
Read: Ex-Surabaya Zoo CEO Accused of Misusing Funds Meant for Animal\nCare<\/p>\n
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