Six gharials die in Chambal, probe sought

Conservationists are in a tizzy over the deaths of six endangered gharials in the Chambal wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary, home to three-fourth of the entire global crocodile population, witnessed a similar incident in 2008 when about a 100 gharials had died after eating contaminated fish.

Conservationists are in a tizzy over the deaths of six endangered gharials in the Chambal wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary, home to three-fourth of the entire global crocodile population, witnessed a similar incident in 2008 when about a 100 gharials had died after eating contaminated fish.

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Forest officials at Chambal sanctuary, however, ruled out contamination.

"The post mortem reports of the aquatic animals have shown that they died because of natural reasons," a forest department official said.

The forest department has also sent the viscera of the animals for testing at a government laboratory in Barelli.

Wildlife experts demanded a probe.

The Gharials numbers have seen a sharp decline making it an endangered species now.