Over 50 jackals found dead in Uttar Pradesh

A case has been registered against the absconding owner of one such crusher unit, Santosh Kumar Varma, who, officials believe, may have baited the jackals with poisoned molasses. Jackals are listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This follows the deaths of a large number of gharial (the count was 81 as of January 17, 2008), a critically-endangered species, in the National Chambal River Sanctuary, which spans Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The cause of the deaths is still unknown, though the possibility of the gharial feeding on contaminated fish that may have migrated from the polluted Yamuna river is being suggested. Consumption of rotten fish could lead to a condition called pansteatitis, which causes death.

February 2008