More than 90 gharials have been reported dead in the last 2 months in the National Chambal Sanctuary in India for yet-to-be diagnosed reasons. The monarch of Indian rivers is under severe threat. A team of international veterinarians and crocodile experts – on government request – is working closely with scientists from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. Early results point to levels of heavy metals – lead and cadmium — leading to immune-suppression (or reduction in body’s ability to fight pathogens) and thereby making them susceptible to infections. Post mortems on gharials show debilitating gout affecting the animals.