The Mystery of Nepal's Orange Crocodiles and Gharials.

1 min read
Source: Livescience.com
The Mystery of Nepal's Orange Crocodiles and Gharials.
Photo: Livescience.com
TL;DR Summary

Freshwater mugger crocodiles and gharials in Nepal's Chitwan National Park are turning orange due to high levels of iron in the water. The iron reacts with oxygen to form an orange substance called iron oxide, which could have coated their scales and teeth in a temporary layer of rusty particles. The gharial population in Nepal has plummeted by 98% since the 1940s due to overhunting, and most of the 200 remaining gharials live in Chitwan National Park, where they face additional threats linked to pollution, mining, and declining fish populations.

Share this article

Reading Insights

Total Reads

0

Unique Readers

10

Time Saved

3 min

vs 4 min read

Condensed

87%

71690 words

Want the full story? Read the original article

Read on Livescience.com