New Delhi: All the zoos in Karnataka were asked to be on high alert after the death of sixteen spotted deer at Bannerghatta Biological Park due to an abdominal disease and internecine fight, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying on Thursday. According to the report, 37 spotted deer were shifted to the biological park from St. John's Hospital earlier this month. Of them, 16 have died.
The development comes close on the heels of the death of seven leopard cubs which were said to be infected by a highly contagious virus, known as Feline panleukopenia.
According to Bannerghatta Biological Park officials, 16 spotted deer died due to 'haemorrhagic enteritis and endocarditis' and fighting among themselves.
In the wake of the incident, Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwara Khandre visited the biological park to take stock of the situation and also held a meeting with its senior officials.
The minister directed all the zoos in Karnataka to be on high alert and instructed the officials concerned to take necessary precautionary measures in a bid to check the spread of infection.
Khandre noted that the biological park was a very “safe and protected place” and termed the death of the deer as “shocking”. “Forest and Medical Officers should coordinate and inspect all the animals and give priority to their care and conservation,” PTI quoted the minister as saying.
The minister also ordered the officials concerned to immediately inform the government in case of sudden or suspicious death of any of the wild animals.
As a precautionary measure, Khandre also advised the officials to vaccinate the leopards, lion and tigers in the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru and other zoos.
Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar, Principal Secretary (Forests) Sanjay S Bijjur, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Rajiv Ranjan and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife Division), Subhash Malkhede were among those present at the meeting, PTI reported.