Critically endangered gharial spotted in Assam's Kaziranga after years
Guwahati (PTI): The critically endangered gharial has been spotted in Kaziranga National Park after the reptile was long believed to have disappeared from Assam’s river systems, officials said on Saturday.
They said the sighting was a testimony to the conservation efforts undertaken in the state.
"Once believed to have disappeared from Assam’s river systems, the critically endangered gharial has now been spotted at Kaziranga, a truly remarkable moment for wildlife conservation," the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a post on X.
The CMO also shared an 18-second video clip showing the reptile in a waterbody, filmed from a motor-powered boat.
The gharial is a critically endangered South Asian crocodilian species known for its exceptionally long and slender snout and fish-based diet.
"For tourists and forest officials alike, this was more than just a rare sighting. It was a powerful reminder of Assam’s extraordinary biodiversity and the silent success of sustained conservation efforts across our forests, wetlands and rivers," the CMO said.
Once believed to have disappeared from Assam’s river systems, the critically endangered gharial has now been spotted at Kaziranga, a truly remarkable moment for wildlife conservation.
— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) May 9, 2026
For tourists and forest officials alike, this was more than just a rare sighting. It was a… pic.twitter.com/WzIOZJGRuX
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Cong leader Joseph criticises public tussle by party supporters over Kerala CM post
Kottayam (Kerala) (PTI): Senior Congress leader K C Joseph on Saturday criticised the public tussle by party supporters over the Kerala chief minister post, warning that taking internal matters to the streets could have dangerous consequences.
He was referring to protests, flex boards and posters put up by supporters of Congress leaders V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, who are being considered for the chief minister’s post.
Joseph was a Congress MLA for 39 years, representing the Irikkur constituency in Kannur and had served as a minister in the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government.
In a Facebook post, Joseph said he was remaining silent because "silence is preferable".
He said everyone should realise that taking the internal affairs of the Congress onto the streets would create dangerous consequences.
Joseph also remarked that "if one spits while lying down, it will fall on one’s own face".
According to him, such public disagreements would ultimately harm the party itself.
He further criticised the protest demonstrations held in Thiruvananthapuram, saying that they had hurt many party supporters, as the image of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was allegedly torn, knowingly or unknowingly.
"This is not good for anyone. Trying to scratch one’s head with a burning stick will be disastrous," he said in the post.
The Congress won 63 seats of its own in the 140-member assembly, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance has won 102 seats, staging a comeback in the southern state.
