P Naveen, TNN | Feb 19, 2013
BHOPAL: National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, home to ghariyals (Indian alligator), has been besieged with cases related to the deaths of the reptiles primarily due to parasitic infection of liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Eleven ghariyals were found dead in the last four months in the sanctuary- five in Bhind region of MP and six in Agra and Etawah districts in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Autopsy reports on the ghariyals revealed irregularities in their gastrointestinal tract.
About 115 gharyials had died with the same problem in the sanctuary from December 8 to 22, 2007. Not to take any chances the authorities are in touch with experts across the country to take preventive steps to save the reptiles.
District forest officer (DFO), Morena, Vincent Rahim told TOI that there is no reason to panic as there is a difference in age, class and size of the reptiles and their causes of death. "Autopsy indicates different reasons. We are in touch with the best wildlife experts. The best veterinarians and experts have been put on alert," said the DFO adding that situation is not alarming yet.
The officials have also contacted Madras crocodile bank trust and Wildlife SOS (animal rescue organization) for further assistance to tackle the situation. As a fresh initiative, sanctuary officials have invited tender for procuring a mortuary freezer to preserve the tissues and other remains of the animals for detailed investigations.
The state officials are also in constant touch with their UP counterparts. Liver dysfunction, cardiac arrest and respiratory tract infection were the reasons behind deaths of three gharials, he said adding other two carcasses were found in a highly decomposed condition so autopsy was impossible.
Viscera of dead animals were sent for a more precise toxicological and pathological examination at Veterinary College in Jabalpur and High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal and IVRI ( Indian Veterinary Research Institute) Bareilly, to find out the actual cause of death.
Officials informed that no sign of external injuries were found on the bodies of the ghariyals, which ruled out the possibility of accidental deaths in fish nets. Established in 1978, the sanctuary is spread in a 435 km stretch of Chambal river spread across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Total of 905 gharilas were reported in the MP part of the sanctuary in the last census in 2012.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Alligator-deaths-triggers-alert/articleshow/18565567.cms
BHOPAL: National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, home to ghariyals (Indian alligator), has been besieged with cases related to the deaths of the reptiles primarily due to parasitic infection of liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Eleven ghariyals were found dead in the last four months in the sanctuary- five in Bhind region of MP and six in Agra and Etawah districts in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Autopsy reports on the ghariyals revealed irregularities in their gastrointestinal tract.
About 115 gharyials had died with the same problem in the sanctuary from December 8 to 22, 2007. Not to take any chances the authorities are in touch with experts across the country to take preventive steps to save the reptiles.
District forest officer (DFO), Morena, Vincent Rahim told TOI that there is no reason to panic as there is a difference in age, class and size of the reptiles and their causes of death. "Autopsy indicates different reasons. We are in touch with the best wildlife experts. The best veterinarians and experts have been put on alert," said the DFO adding that situation is not alarming yet.
The officials have also contacted Madras crocodile bank trust and Wildlife SOS (animal rescue organization) for further assistance to tackle the situation. As a fresh initiative, sanctuary officials have invited tender for procuring a mortuary freezer to preserve the tissues and other remains of the animals for detailed investigations.
The state officials are also in constant touch with their UP counterparts. Liver dysfunction, cardiac arrest and respiratory tract infection were the reasons behind deaths of three gharials, he said adding other two carcasses were found in a highly decomposed condition so autopsy was impossible.
Viscera of dead animals were sent for a more precise toxicological and pathological examination at Veterinary College in Jabalpur and High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal and IVRI ( Indian Veterinary Research Institute) Bareilly, to find out the actual cause of death.
Officials informed that no sign of external injuries were found on the bodies of the ghariyals, which ruled out the possibility of accidental deaths in fish nets. Established in 1978, the sanctuary is spread in a 435 km stretch of Chambal river spread across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Total of 905 gharilas were reported in the MP part of the sanctuary in the last census in 2012.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Alligator-deaths-triggers-alert/articleshow/18565567.cms
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