Eight critically endangered gharials born at Fort Worth Zoo

The Fort Worth Zoo is celebrating the birth of multiple rare gharials as the zoo fights to keep the critically endangered crocodile relatives alive.Fort Worth Zoo gharial birthsEight gharials were born at the Fort Worth Zoo from June 3 to June 26, representing the fourth consecutive year the zoo has seen successful gharial births.The zoo says small adjustments made to the breeding, incubation and husbandry process for the gharials may have contributed to the record number of births.Gharials are one of the largest crocodilian species, and are known for their long and thin snouts.The hatchlings are just over 12 inches at birth, but male gharials can grow to 16 feet and weigh nearly 1,500 pounds.The species is critically endangered due to habitat destruction and pollution."It’s very rewarding to have another year achieving the healthy hatchings of these unique and vulnerable crocodiles," said Vicky Poole, associate curator of ectotherms at the Fort Worth Zoo. "Every successful hatch gives