Guwahati, May 10 -- Reported by Sandeep Sharma

Guwahati: The repeated sighting of a critically endangered gharial in the Burapahar Range of Kaziranga National Park has raised fresh hopes for wildlife conservation efforts in Assam.

The first sighting this year was reported on April 26, when forest staff on patrol spotted a gharial basking on a sand bar near the Maite APC area along the confluence of the Difolu and Brahmaputra rivers. Officials said the reptile was seen in an area known for sandy riverbanks and calm confluences, habitats considered ideal for feeding, basking and breeding.

In the days that followed, several more sightings were reported from the same location, supported by photographic evidence. The latest sighting was rec...