A mysterious disease has killed at least 17 gharials - an endangered species of fish-eating crocodile - over the past few days in India's northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, officials said Friday. The reptiles were found dead in the Chambal river, which runs along the two states since December 8, BK Pattanaik, Uttar Pradesh's principal chief conservator of forests was quoted as saying by the German news agency "DPA." "The autopsies of the gharials are being done to ascertain the disease that killed them. The report would be available in a day's time," Pattnaik said. "Liver cirrhosis and lung damage were the immediate cause of death which might be due to bacterial, fungal or viral infection. It is only after the autopsy report that we would be able to know the disease," he said. He added that there were no external injury marks on the reptiles and poisoning was not suspected as fish in the river had not died.
