Scientists are puzzled by mysterious mass deaths of crocodiles along the Oliphants River in South Africa- home of the densest population of Nile crocodiles in Africa. They were first noticed late in May and to date at least 30 crocodiles have been found dead and exhibiting similar symptoms of a distinctive yellow-orange hardened fat in their tails.

Tissue samples have been sent to the University of Pretoria's Onderstepoort for further analysis and veterinary surgeons, scientists, researchers, rangers and managers met in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday, June 3^rd to discuss the discovery. Kruger National Park's Head of Department for Scientific Services, Danie Pienaar, said that they do not know the cause yet but it is believed at this stage that the yellow-orange fat is a condition known as Pansteatitis which is usually associated with the consumption of rotten or rancid fish.

Pansteatitis, also called steatitis or yellow fat disease is a nutritionally mediated condition usually associated with the feeding of certain types of fish oil or unsaturated fatty acids of fish origin in a diet poor in vitamin E. It occurs regularly in mink, cats, pigs and poultry, all of which are fed on high fish diets. While no dead fish or other animals were found in the Oliphants River, the dead crocodiles contained yellow-orange hardened fat in their tails — usually a sign of eating rotten fish.

Pienaar said the Olifants River was the most polluted river in the park and the system had experienced further strain from the Massingir Dam that has pushed back into the Olifants Gorge, causing sediments to be deposited.

Visitors to the Kruger National Park need not worry about their own health as water utilized from the Olifants River is exhaustively monitored before declared fit for human consumption.