Abstract:
Mass mortality of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) occurred in the Olifants River of the
Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2008 from pansteatitis, a condition in which body fat becomes
yellow and inflamed. Much research has been carried out, but the cause(s) of the outbreak
in the KNP remains unknown (Ashton, 2010; Ferreira & Pienaar, 2011; Woodborne et al.,
2012; Bouwman et al., 2014). Anthropogenic factors such as heavy metal pollution have
been suggested as a potential cause (e.g. Bouwman et al., 2014). We found only three
studies from Africa on heavy metals in wild crocodiles (Table 1). The aim of this study was to
assess the concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids in wild and apparently healthy
crocodiles in the KNP.
