35 Deer Died On IIT-Madras Campus Within Six Months, Reveals RTI

Of the total two deer died due to weakness while four other deer died after ingestion of plastic products. 

Chennai: Thirty-five deer passed away due to various reasons in six months from July to December 2021, revealed an RTI reply from the Forest Department. Of the total two deer died due to weakness while four other deer died after ingestion of plastic products. 

According to a report on Times of India, 35 deer died in the IIT Madras campus in six months and the deer died due to various reasons including TB, plastic ingestion and suffering bite from other animals. 

In the 35 deer, two died of TB, two died of weakness, four from various diseases, four from plastic ingestion, two had bite marks while the rest of the reasons of the deer are unknown since the carcass was not sent to the forest department for autopsy. 

In October 2020, 188 stray dogs in the campus were impounded since they reportedly killed more than 55 deer from 2019-2020.

However, already IIT-Madras also reported the deaths of several dogs on the campus in 2021. In the two years since 2020, 50 dogs have died on the campus.

The death of the deer came to light based on the RTI report filed by animal activist Arun Prasanna. The petitioner said, IIT Madras should take efforts to stop the deer deaths. The spotted deer and blackbuck are protected under Wild Life Protection Act since the death of every deer must be reported and an autopsy must be performed.

The Forest Department should also investigate the death and take action against the people who did not send the carcass for autopsy.