Experts looking into gharial deaths in UP sanctuary

KOLKATA: Extensive tests are being carried out on the carcasses of gharials found dead at the National Chambal Sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh to look into the causes of their death.

The World Wide Fund for Nature-India estimates that more than 100 gharials have died in the sanctuary since December 2007. Most of the dead gharials were spotted at the confluence of the rivers Chambal and Yamuna.

"At the moment, the experiments are focused on testing tissue samples. The investigation, following the recommendations of an international group of toxicologists, is pursuing testing of possible toxins," Brian A Stacy, a veterinary pathologist of the University of Florida, said.

Stacy is part of a veterinary team of the Crocodile Specialist Group under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) performing field studies in the sanctuary in February. He joined other experts on a 40-km tour of the Chambal River, examining living and dead gharials.

"Toxicological tests will be done soon. We have very limited amounts of samples available for testing so toxicologists must evaluate which Indian labs are most suitable to perform the analysis," Stacy said in an email.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has taken a serious view of the mysterious gharial deaths and UP forest department has sought the intervention of the Union Ministry of Environment and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as a large number of industries operate on the bank of Yamuna discharging sludge in the river.

According to the pathologist, preliminary tests indicated renal failure as a cause of the gharial deaths. "We were able to examine a small number of affected animals by microscopy. There was evidence of damage to the kidneys," he said.

"If the toxin is identified, then the source - like water, fish or pollution - could be determined," the US-based pathologist said.

Switzerland-based World Conservation Union has identified gharials as critically endangered species.
Apart from gharials, gangetic dolphins also inhabit National Chambal Sanctuary. It also supports crocodile, otters, turtles and birds.

Founded in 1979, the sanctuary is protected under the Wild Life Protection Act. It covers more than 5,500 sq km of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh along the Chambal River.