The gharial mother is one of nature’s most fascinating examples of gentle guardianship. Unlike other crocodilian species, gharial mothers have long, slender snouts that make it difficult to carry their hatchlings in their mouths, so instead, they protect them in a different way. After the eggs hatch, the mother stays close to her young near the riverbank, watching over hundreds of tiny, vulnerable babies. When danger approaches, from birds, fish, or even other crocodiles, she uses low grunts and