A grim discovery in the Devarayanadurga-Durgadahalli forest area has left Tumakuru forest officials on high alert after 11 monkeys were found dead over the weekend. The carcasses, which included nine monkeys and two langurs, were discovered scattered across a few hundred meters of woodland. The alarm was first raised on Friday evening, and by Saturday morning, the death toll had climbed as search teams combed the surrounding brush.
While the investigation is still in its early stages, a post-mortem has already provided some troubling clues. A senior forest official noted that "prima facie" findings point toward food poisoning rather than a natural outbreak. Investigators found traces of rice in the animals' digestive tracts, and the tell-tale bluish tint on their mouths and necks strongly suggests they may have consumed either deliberately poisoned bait or severely decayed leftover food dumped near the forest.
Despite the suspicious symptoms, authorities are being cautious and haven't officially ruled on the cause of death. They have ruled out an immediate threat of contagious disease but are waiting on a definitive verdict from the experts. Viscera samples have been rushed to laboratories in Bengaluru and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with results expected in the coming days. In the meantime, forest guards have stepped up patrols in the area to ensure no more contaminated food is being left out for the local wildlife.
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