The KCT Group Trust enables the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) to implement the Gharial Conservation Project, focused on protecting one of the world’s most endangered reptiles and restoring balance to river ecosystems. Once numbering between 5,000 and 10,000 in the 1940s, the gharial population has declined by over 96%, with current estimates ranging between 250 and 650 adult individuals remaining in the wild threatened by illegal sand mining that destroys nesting sites and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.

As apex predators and uniquely attentive parents, gharials are crucial to maintaining aquatic biodiversity. The project emphasizes habitat protection, species recovery, and community engagement, supported by technology-driven monitoring and school-based education to raise awareness and foster local stewardship. Through this initiative, KCT Group Trust and WCT are working together to secure the future of the gharial and the health of India’s riverine ecosystems.