Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) in Venezuela
Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) in Venezuela
Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) in Venezuela
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152 IGUANA • VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3 • SEPTEMBER 2008 CHAUDHARI<br />
Gharial hatchl<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary are vulnerable<br />
to monsoon flood<strong>in</strong>g, necessitat<strong>in</strong>g the development of a conservation<br />
strategy to address this threat <strong>in</strong> future years.<br />
and nearly all of the hatchl<strong>in</strong>gs were swept away. Additional protective<br />
measures will have to be developed <strong>in</strong> order to prevent a<br />
recurrence <strong>in</strong> future years.<br />
Early this year, more than 100 Gharials died <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Chambal River Wildlife Sanctuary. Investigators have ruled out<br />
the possibility of any <strong>in</strong>fection or parasite as the cause of the<br />
deaths. Dead Gharials were diagnosed with kidney damage and<br />
failure, significant gout with<strong>in</strong> the body cavities and around<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternal organs (visceral gout), and gout with<strong>in</strong> the jo<strong>in</strong>ts (articular<br />
gout). A tox<strong>in</strong> is suspected of caus<strong>in</strong>g the kidney damage<br />
and failure, although neither a tox<strong>in</strong> nor a potential source has<br />
been identified. Further <strong>in</strong>vestigations will focus on fish <strong>in</strong>habit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the river, as well as <strong>in</strong>dustrial and other human activities <strong>in</strong><br />
the region. For more <strong>in</strong>formation, see www.gharials.org.<br />
The recently established Katerniaghat Foundation is work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for conservation of Gharials and other wildlife species <strong>in</strong> the<br />
sanctuary. These <strong>in</strong>clude Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Asian<br />
Elephants, Indian Rh<strong>in</strong>oceros, deer, pythons, Gangetic<br />
Dolph<strong>in</strong>s, various turtles, and many species of resident and<br />
migratory birds.<br />
An adult Gharial patroll<strong>in</strong>g a sandy area where hatchl<strong>in</strong>gs are bask<strong>in</strong>g.