Heat wave claims crocodiles in Chhattisgarh zoo
By IANSWednesday, April 28, 2010
RAIPUR - A pair of crocodiles were victims of a heat wave at a zoo in Chhattisgarh where the maximum temperature has touched 45 degrees Celsius, officials said Wednesday.
A post-mortem report Wednesday said that male and one female crocodile, both aged about six years who were found dead at Nandan Van zoo on the outskirts of capital Raipur Monday, had died of the searing heat.
“The crocodiles failed to sustain a plus 45 degrees Celsius temperature. The female crocodile was pregnant and all 16 eggs were taken out from her stomach during the post-mortem,” Jaikishore Jaria, the veterinary doctor of the zoo, told reporters.
Forest department sources said “poor care of the crocodiles” could also have played a role in their death.
“The zoo had just a pair of crocodiles left and both were kept in open-air water encircled by a cemented platform. During day time, the water turned hot and it looks that this could also be a reason for their death,” sources in the department told IANS.
