A sudden wave of deaths at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Zoo in Belagavi has triggered alarm within Karnataka’s Forest Department, after 28 blackbucks perished within three days under unexplained circumstances.
Zoo authorities confirmed that the facility housed 38 blackbucks, of which only ten now remain. Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered an inquiry and said early assessments point to a possible infectious outbreak.
Assistant Conservator of Forest Nagaraj Balhasuri said eight blackbucks died two days earlier, with another 20 succumbing on Saturday. He noted that the zoo’s veterinary team suspects a bacterial infection, though the precise cause is yet to be determined.
“We have sent the viscera sample to the authorities at Bannerghatta Zoological Park in Bengaluru to find out the reason behind the death,” Balhasuri told reporters.
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In a statement, the Forest Minister said preliminary observations suggested the deer might have died of an infectious disease. He added that precautionary measures have been initiated to prevent its spread to other animals in the zoo.
The minister stressed the need for a comprehensive investigation, directing that an expert committee examine whether contaminated water or fodder, or disease transmission from domestic animals such as cats, played any role.
“It is a matter of concern that animals in the zoo are dying in this way. Such incidents should not recur in the future and that appropriate action should be taken as per the rules in case of negligence on the part of the staff,” he said.
Khandre cautioned that strict action would follow if the inquiry identifies staff negligence as the cause of the deaths.
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