MYSTERIOUS MASS MORTALITY OF INDIAN GHARIALS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000097 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/ENV, AND SCA/INS STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS INTERIOR FOR FRED BAGLEY AND MINI NAGENDRAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV IN SUBJECT: MYSTERIOUS MASS MORTALITY OF INDIAN GHARIALS NEW DELHI 00000097 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 9. ¶2. (U) Summary: Between 64 and 100 Gangetic Gharials, a critically endangered crocodilian species endemic to India, have been found dead in less than a month in the Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary located in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan states. The cause of the deaths is currently a mystery as the carcasses of the recovered animals show no signs of trauma and autopsies have not revealed the presence of poisons or pollutants capable of causing death. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has begun to address the issue although the scientific community and conservationists remain highly alarmed as estimates indicate there are no more than 200 breeding female gharials left in India. End Summary. -------------- THE GHARIAL CRISIS -------------- ¶3. (U) ESTHOff and ESTHFsn attended a press conference on January 4, 2008 held by renowned wildlife filmmakers Naresh and Rajesh Bedi who won the green Oscar for their 1984 film on the gharials of India's Chambal River. The Bedi brothers returned to the Chambal in early December 2007 to film the changes in the area over the last 23 years. They were shocked to come across 11 dead gharials and filmed the carcasses, some of which had been buried along the banks of the river. The Bedi brothers made a passionate appeal to both state governments and the GOI's Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) asking that they work together to help find the cause of the die-off and resolve the crisis. ¶4. (U) Upon further investigation, the ESTH office learned that all of the dead gharials recovered to date were found along a 30 kilometer stretch of the Chambal River located in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Forest Department officials put the number of deaths at 64 while other conservationists claim the figure may be closer to ¶100. None of the gharials recovered to date show signs of physical trauma and none were skinned, ruling out poachers working in the illegal skin trade. Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII),Dehradun, and the Indian Veterinarian Research Institute, Bareilly, have visited the area but have not been able to identify the reason for the die-off. Strangely, only sub-adults in the age group of 6 to 12 years have been affected and no other animal life, terrestrial or aquatic, has been impacted. Autopsies performed on selected carcasses have revealed liver damage and the presence of lead but neither factor has proven to be the cause of death. Water sample tests have also been inconclusive. Poisoning and pollution have been ruled out as no other species have been found dead and there is no polluting industry in the region. Most theories point towards disease and although India has a Gharial captive breeding program, all Gharial mortalities to date have been naturally bred animals. ¶5. (SBU) While most experts are focusing on the disease theory, B.C. Choudhury, senior faculty member at WII and the Crocodile Specialist Group Chair for the West Asia region, told ESTHFsn that he does not rule out the involvement of either the Fish Mafia or the Sand Mining Mafia, separate but similar groups involved in illegal fishing and sand mining. Choudhury compares the die-off to the poaching disaster at the Sariska Tiger Reserve which some speculated was conducted at the behest of mining interests in an attempt to open the park to mining. Choudhury reasons that a loss of the Gharial, the flagship species in the Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, could possibly open the park up to both fishing and mining interests. While Choudhury does not rule out disease and considers it a strong possibility, he notes the fact that because some gharial carcasses were found buried, there is merit in forensic tests to rule out the possibility of deliberate poisoning. -------------- GOVERNMENT RESPONSE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On January 7, 2008, the MoEF convened a meeting to discuss the way forward to solving the crisis. In a conversation with Parikshit Gautam, Director, Freshwater and Wetlands Programs, WWF - India, the ESTH office learned the outcome of the January 7 meeting was the formation of a Crisis Management Group with WWF-India as the Chair. Gautam criticized ministry officials for taking almost a month to respond to the crisis after it was first brought to their attention by Madhya Pradesh forest officials but said he was pleasantly surprised with the Ministry's willingness to accept WWF's help in solving the crisis. He noted this marked a positive change in MoEF attitudes towards NGOs. In addition, B.C. Choudhury commended the proactive approach of the Madhya Pradesh forest NEW DELHI 00000097 002.2 OF 002 officials and called the Chief Conservator of Forest of the Chambal region Mr. Suhas Kumar, a "very sane person" and keen on finding a solution to the crisis. -------------- INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND THE WAY FORWARD -------------- ¶7. (U) The Madhya Pradesh Department of Forestry has made it clear to the MoEF that it believes international assistance is necessary to resolve the crisis. B.C. Choudhury and Rom Whitaker, Chairman of the Gharial Conservation Alliance and Honorary Member, Steering Committee of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Crocodile Specialist Group, suggested approaching the US Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Wildlife Disease Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin as well as the IUCN's Crocodile Specialist Vet Group. They also mentioned enlisting Dr. Elliott Jacobson, who was associated with the India Crocodile Program in the 1970s and 80s. However, according to Gautam, it appears the MoEF would prefer to try to solve the problem with Indian scientists although ministry officials did express a willingness to enlist international assistance if necessary. ¶8. (U) The MoEF has agreed to improve monitoring of the area and will arrange with various Indian laboratories to collect and analyze water and tissue samples. Choudhury outlined additional steps he suggests should be taken including: creating a network of reptile veterinarians focused on the crisis; designating an India based veterinarian as a crisis coordinator; obtaining guidance and direction from international crocodile veterinarians; and obtaining clearance to examine selected gharials for disease. To date these steps have not been taken. -------------- COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Considering that scientists estimate the population of the Gangetic Gharial between 1200 and 1400 animals with no more than 200 breeding females, Post is concerned there is not sufficient expertise available in India to resolve the crisis in time to avoid a substantial loss to the species. Many conservationists compare the Gharial crisis to the Vulture die-offs in India that took nine years to resolve. Using the government estimate of 64 deaths since early December, India is losing gharials at the rate of over two per day. The Gharial is on the IUCN red list of critically endangered species and if the number is closer to 100, there may be insufficient time for India to save its gharials. In order to protect bio-diversity and avoid species loss, Post requests the Department to assess the ability of the USG to provide technical assistance to the Government of India and if available, offer such assistance through official channels. MULFORD