VZCZCXRO1082
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHNE #0260/01 0251045
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251045Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0151
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 1426
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1630
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 2316
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000260 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/ENV, AND SCA/INS 
STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 
INTERIOR FOR FRED BAGLEY AND MINI NAGENDRAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV IN
SUBJECT:  INDIA WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AS GHARIAL DEATHS 
CONTINUE 
 
REF: New Delhi 0097 
 
NEW DELHI 00000260  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  ESTHOFF and ESTHFSN met with Dr. R.B. Lal, Inspector 
General, and Dr. Anmol Kumar, Deputy Inspector General of Wildlife 
at the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on January 24, 
2008 to discuss the continued die-off of India's gangetic gharial 
population described in Reftel.  In a very candid discussion, both 
officials did not hesitate to share information regarding the crisis 
and the GOI's response to it.  In addition, they both noted the lack 
of available expertise within India and welcomed technical 
assistance from the United States and the international community. 
END SUMMARY 
 
----------- 
STILL DYING 
----------- 
 
¶2.  Dr. Lal stated that the current death toll stood at 87 animals. 
He noted that the rate of death had slowed somewhat since December 
2007 but had not ceased as the latest dead gharials were discovered 
as recently as January 23.  Dr. Kumar confirmed the deaths were 
still occurring primarily in sub-adults, both male and female, but 
that the carcass of one adult male had also been recovered.  Dr. Lal 
confirmed the MoEF, in conjunction with state forest departments, 
had increased patrols on the affected 35 kilometer section of the 
Chambal River and that he was receiving daily updates on the death 
toll. 
 
¶3. Dr. Lal confirmed there is still no known cause of the die-off 
but that the GOI had ruled out earlier claims of possible human 
intervention by either the sand-mining or fish mafias due to lack of 
any physical evidence to support the theory.  When ESTHOFF noted the 
speculation regarding the fish and sand-mining mafias had been 
fueled by the fact the first carcasses found in early December had 
been buried, Dr. Lal very candidly stated the burials had been done 
in error by front-line forest personnel who did not know how to 
handle the situation.  He went on to note current speculation 
involving a parasite found in rotten fish as a potential cause of 
death was a possibility but that claims contamination from the 
heavily polluted Yamuna River were more than likely unfounded as the 
Yamuna joins the Chambal far downstream from the area where the 
deaths are occurring. 
 
------------------------ 
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
------------------------ 
 
¶4.  Dr. Lal confirmed the MoEF not only welcomes international 
assistance on this issue, but that in conjunction with their gharial 
crisis partner, WWF-India, have already invited four international 
experts, including one American, Dr. Brian A. Stacy of the 
University of Florida, to visit the Chambal River to take part in 
the investigation.  In a previous conversation with WWF-India 
Secretary General Mr. Ravi Singh, ESTHFSN had learned that the four 
 
SIPDIS 
experts are due to meet with the Gharial Crisis Management Group on 
January 28, 2008 to formulate a plan of action.  Drs. Lal and Kumar 
could not confirm the date but believed the meeting would take place 
within the next week. 
 
¶5.  In addition to the international experts already being 
assembled, Dr. Lal expressed a need to obtain contacts with 
information on the Lake Griffin crocodile die-off that occurred in 
Florida beginning in 1997.  He stated the MoEF would greatly 
appreciate initiating email consultations with a U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) crocodile expert who would be willing to 
offer expertise and share information.  He also expressed a desire 
to engage USFWS in long-term planning in order to avoid any repeat 
of the current die-off once a cause of death has been established. 
(Note:  Post is currently working with OES to identify a suitable 
expert at USFWS.  End Note) 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. The MoEF's handling of the Gharial crisis is a refreshing 
departure from the past when it was unwilling to seek outside 
assistance such as during the 2005 Tiger crisis.  The MoEF of today 
has not only partnered with an NGO, which is uncommon, but has 
recognized the limitations of Indian expertise and has sought out 
international assistance.  In an earlier conversation with MoEF 
Secretary Meena Gupta, ESTHOFF was very impressed with her knowledge 
 
SIPDIS 
and evident concern regarding the gharial crisis.  Although the 
conversation was short and took place on the margins of a climate 
 
NEW DELHI 00000260  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
change meeting, Secretary Gupta informed ESTHOFF she welcomed U.S. 
assistance and would follow-up by asking her Inspector General to 
contact him.  It was the result of her direct action that led to the 
January 24 meeting with Drs. Lal and Kumar who themselves were 
highly engaged with the issue and expressed a strong sense of 
urgency and commitment which had been lacking at the MoEF in past 
years.  It is too soon to tell whether this level of professionalism 
and openness will continue but the MoEF's  current handling of the 
gharial crisis bodes well not only for the gharial, but for 
increasing environmental engagement as well. 
 
MULFORD