Welcome to Season 4 of the Think Wildlife Podcast, where we explore the frontlines of biodiversity conservation through stories that shape the future of our planet.

In this episode, host Anish Banerjee speaks with Ram Pratap Singh, a social entrepreneur, conservationist, and founder of the Indian School of Nature, who has spent over two decades working to restore the Chambal River—one of India’s most extraordinary examples of riverine conservation. Once infamous for its dacoits, the Chambal region is today a biodiversity hotspot, home to thriving populations of gharial, marsh crocodile (mugger), Gangetic dolphin, smooth-coated otter, and Indian skimmer. Ram describes how the Chambal Riverine ecosystem, once threatened by sand mining, overfishing, and pollution, was transformed into one of the most successful biodiversity conservation landscapes in South Asia.

The conversation traces the rediscovery of the gharial in the 1970s, when the species was presumed extinct, leading to the launch of Project Gharial, one of the world’s earliest captive-breeding and reintroduction programs. Singh explains how the combined threats of mining, riverbed agriculture, and plastic fishing nets once devastated riverine biodiversity, and how determined scientists and forest officers worked with local communities to rebuild habitats critical for gharial and crocodile conservation. He highlights how dedicated field staff revived the Chambal wildlife population from just 200 individuals to over 2,500 today through conservation breeding, making it a global model for wildlife conservation and biodiversity management.

The discussion also explores the ecological and cultural role of gharials in India, their significance in Hindu mythology as the sacred vehicle of the goddess Ganga, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining this fragile riverine ecology. Ram discusses the looming threats of pollution, heavy metal contamination, climate change, dams, and river-linking projects that could once again endanger Chambal biodiversity. He underscores the urgent need to safeguard sandbanks, maintain ecological flows, and strengthen inter-state cooperation to secure the future of this unique riverine ecosystem.

Ram also reflects on the evolution of his conservation journey—from founding the Chambal Conservation Foundation to establishing the Indian School of Nature, which now promotes climate-compatible agriculture, and environmental education. He also talks about his eco-tourism efforts at the Chambal Safari Lodge. His vision extends beyond wildlife, aiming to align human livelihoods with biodiversity management and the long-term health of India’s riverine wildlife.

This episode captures one of India’s greatest conservation success stories: how the Chambal River rose from infamy to become a sanctuary for endangered species and a living symbol of hope for biodiversity and crocodiles across the subcontinent. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or nature enthusiast, this is an inspiring exploration of how local action can restore entire river systems.

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