22 spotted deer poisoned at Chhattisgarh Zoo

BILASPUR: At least 22 spotted deer died after being poisoned in Kanan Pendari Zoo, about 12 km from Bilaspur city in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.

"Preliminary investigations led to the suspicion that poachers had poisoned the spotted deer in the park as the deer died one by one," district forest officer Hemant Pandey told TOI.

"At least 22 female deer were killed. The animals were in the age group of 3 months to 5 years. It has been found that few male deer were also affected. They were administered medicines and are now under observation," he added.

Pander said doctors from Veterinary Institute in Durg district and veterinary doctors from Bilaspur have reached the zoo where post-mortem is being carried out. Microbiologists and pathology experts will be among the team visiting the zoo.

"We are also examining why poachers targeted only female spotted deer," he added.

Wildlife officials present at the zoo said they noticed injuries on neck of the dead animals lending rise to suspicion about the motive of the poachers. It is being speculated that the poachers might have targeted these animals suspecting them to be musk deer.