A critically endangered crocodile died from stress allegedly caused by pounding music from a party beside her enclosure.
Devastated bosses at Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology near Chennai, India, had asked tourists to turn the volume down, it's alleged.
They were concerned the "vibrations from the bass music from powerful hi-fidelity speakers" were harming their reptiles.
And staff were saddened to find their 12-year-old Cuban crocodile dead in its enclosure last month.
The animal, who was part of a critical breeding group, had no injuries or history of being sick.
The four-star Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort and Spa, owned by the popular Marriott Hotels , said the party on the evening before the death happened on a beech nearby and not on its premises.
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Romulus Whitaker, co-founder of the crocodile bank, said: "The Cuban crocodile enclosure is around 50 ft from the wall which divides the hotel from us and the powerful hi-fidelity speakers had been placed right next to it.
"We think it occurred as a result of stress due to the sound from the nearby hotel, but we were unable to perform the post-mortem as the animal was totally rotten in the pool the next day morning.
"The speaker which they set up creates such strong vibrations, even the doors and the windows in the residence of the crocodile bank were shaking.
"We will now consider moving the group to another location, an expensive and difficult undertaking.
"As one of the founders of the Croc Bank, I am shattered by this loss. This is really too much."
But Marriott Hotels believes the allegations are unfounded.
Shibil Malik, general manager for the hotel, said: "We at Sheraton Grand Chennai are equally saddened and disturbed to hear of this unfortunate incident.
"We have continuously worked with the crocodile bank management and taken all possible measures to maintain the safety of the wildlife in the neighbourhood. Hence we do believe that the allegations are unfounded.
"Whilst as a company we are extremely sensitive to animal welfare we do deny these false accusations.
"We remain committed towards the environment and wildlife and to working with the crocodile bank to ensure the safety of the wildlife so we can all coexist."
Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is a small species of crocodile found only in Cuba. It is considered to be a highly aggressive and potentially dangerous to human.
It is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
