Punjab's Rivers Are Living Systems.
A healthy river is not just water — it is an entire world of species, relationships, and communities. When rivers decline, everything connected to them does too.
"The Gharial is an indicator species — a healthy population mirrors a healthy river."
Field Note #04The Gharial: An Indicator of River Health
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the world’s most critically endangered crocodilians — and one of the most important. Its presence signals a functioning river ecosystem: clean water, healthy fish populations, and intact riverbanks. Where gharials survive, the river is alive. Where they disappear, the ecosystem is in crisis. By protecting the gharial, we protect the entire river system it depends on.
The Next Generation of River Stewards
In Punjab, awareness about freshwater biodiversity remains limited — especially among young people. Through interactive school sessions, storytelling, and creative activities, we introduce students to the importance of rivers, the life within them, and why protecting freshwater ecosystems is inseparable from protecting our own future.
