Selected chemical parameters in the blood and metals in the organs of the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, in the Kruger National Park

Healthy and sick crocodiles of varying sizes were examined from the Olifant s River in the central part of the Kruger National Park, the Sabi River in the southern part and the Shingwedzi River in the northern region. Blood wa s collected for the determination of certain parameters and samples of fat, muscle, kidney and liver tissue were collected and analyzed for their heav y metal content. The results of the blood analyses are within the range rec orded in the literature, but the metal analyses were inconclusive as simila r data are not available for comparison. The results of the metal analyses are presented here for use as baseline and reference data.