Loud music from Chennai star hotel 'kills' crocodile

CHENNAI:

Loud music

during a party at a star hotel along the

East Coast Road

(ECR) has allegedly killed a crocodile in a nearby zoo.


A Cuban crocodile, one of the endangered species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature, died as a result of stress caused by vibrations that originated from the hotel lawn, alleged the zoo authorities.

This is not an isolated incident. Madras Crocodile Bank, which runs the zoo, had earlier raised issues pertaining to crocodiles engaging in fights between each other because of stress from similar events. The hotel, Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa, responded assuring support to the authorities about concerns raised.

The incident was reported on March 30. Romulus Whitaker, a Padma Shri awardee and one of the founders of Madras Crocodile Bank, said, “The Cuban crocodile’s enclosure is about 50 feet from the wall which divides the hotel from them and powerful speakers were placed right next to it.”

Besides high-decibel sound, high-frequency vibrations, too, would have contributed to the death of the 12-year-old endangered female animal, he told TOI. Only one male and three females remain.

Commenting on it, animal rights activist S Saravanan said that though the reptiles would have adapted to noise pollution along the ECR to a certain extent, sudden high-intensity sounds would increase their heart rate thereby increasing the chances of death.

When asked whether an autopsy was done to confirm the cause of death, Whitaker said that the carcass had turned too rotten (within 24 hours) to be tested.

Shibal Malik, general manager, Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa, said they were committed to safeguarding the environment and were actively working with the crocodile bank officials on the concerns raised, after their last meeting with them in February.

“We assure the concerned authorities our fullest support,” he added.

The zoo is now planning to move the endangered species to another location.