There are wildlife photographs that make you stop scrolling, and then there are the ones that make you stare wide-eyed in disbelief. The image now taking the internet by storm belongs firmly in the second category: a massive crocodile gliding through a sacred river with a swarm of tiny hatchlings clinging to his back. It’s the kind of moment that feels almost mythical, yet it’s happening in one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth.
A rare sight in a sacred river
The extraordinary photograph was captured by Dhritiman Mukherjee, a wildlife photographer known for his patience and deep respect for the animals he documents. In northern India, he spent weeks immersed in a protected river sanctuary, waiting for the perfect glimpse of the critically endangered gharial – a crocodilian species instantly recognisable by its long, narrow snout.
The setting was the Ganges, a river revered for its spiritual significance and biodiversity. Among its inhabitants are gharials, whose unique anatomy prevents them from carrying their young in their mouths the way other crocodilians do. Instead, the males take on a surprisingly tender strategy: they ferry their hatchlings on their backs, giving them a safe perch from which to navigate fast currents and lurking predators.
This behaviour is rarely seen, let alone photographed with such clarity. The father in Mukherjee’s image is believed to be caring for several clutches of hatchlings, which may explain why there appear to be nearly 100 tiny gharials stacked across his enormous body.
A father’s role in gharial society
Male gharials aren’t often credited with being doting parents, yet this nurturing instinct is vital for the species’ survival. With only around 650 adults left in the wild, every juvenile matters. Patrick Campbell, senior reptile curator at the Natural History Museum, explains that habitat loss and declining river health have pushed the species to the brink. Fully grown gharials can exceed four metres in length and weigh nearly a tonne, yet their power is no match for human driven environmental change.
The Chambal River, home to India’s largest gharial population, hosts roughly 500 individuals fighting for survival. Successful breeding seasons have become precious victories in conservation. Moments like the one captured in this photograph offer hope – a visual reminder of resilience in a world where the odds are stacked against them.
Capturing the heart of the river
Mukherjee’s photograph does more than showcase a rare animal behaviour; it captures the emotional pulse of a river that has nourished communities and wildlife for centuries. Keeping a respectful distance, he used his lens to bring the world closer to a species many people have never heard of, let alone seen in such an intimate moment.
The image has already been shortlisted for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and has earned top marks in a contest run by the Natural History Museum. Among thousands of entries, it stood out not just for its technical brilliance, but for the story it tells about survival, adaptation and the quiet heroism found in unexpected corners of nature.
A reminder of what’s at stake
As someone who spends a good portion of life collecting stories from across the globe, this one resonates deeply. It’s a powerful reminder that the natural world doesn’t simply endure – it adapts, surprises and thrives whenever we give it the space to do so.
In a time when conservation concerns loom large, images like this invite us to pause. They encourage us to reflect on our own role in safeguarding delicate ecosystems and the species that depend on them. The sight of a father gharial carrying a living, wriggling raft of his young is more than just adorable; it is a testament to resilience, to family, and to the astonishing beauty that still exists in the wild.
And sometimes, all it takes is one extraordinary photograph to make the world look a little closer.
