Liver cirrhosis kills 26 crocs
2007-12-14 09:02
Lucknow - As many as 26 endangered
crocodiles have been found dead over the last three days in
northern India and experts attribute the rare mass deaths to
cirrhosis of the liver, authorities said on Friday.
The reptiles died in the waters of the Chambal river, which
runs along the borders of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh
and the central state of Madhya Pradesh, baffling experts as it
is considered their natural habitat.
"Autopsies confirm liver cirrhosis as the cause of death,"
DNS Suman, Uttar Pradesh's top wildlife official, told
Reuters from Etawah town on the banks of the Chambal where
experts have camped to investigate the deaths.
Poisoning was not suspected as fish in the river had not
died, Suman said, adding that scientists would test the water
for the presence of any liver-damaging toxins.
Cirrhosis is marked by the loss of liver tissue, leading to
the loss of function of the vital organ.