The rare Indian crocodile known as the Gharial is turning up dead by the dozen on the banks of a river. Since mid December the national Chambal wildlife sanctuary has confirmed 76 deaths along the Chambel which begins in Madhya Pradesh and runs through Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The forest officer said the initial postmortem reports suggested the cause of death to be liver cirrhosis and stomach ulcers. Further tests showed lead levels in the liver that "though not toxic can trigger suppression of the immune system". Follow-up test on the fish of the river revealed heightened lead content. But in both the fish and the Gharial, the lead levels are below levels considered lethal, the official said. Environmentalist are pressing officials for answers on the source of lead and why the crocodile died while their prey where unaffected.
The forest department suspects that a possible source of lead could be the Yamuna, which gathers industrial wastes from the national capital and several nearby industrial towns and meets the Chambal downstream.
The Hindu, January 23rd 2008
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