Just weeks after Kerala’s Puthur Zoological Park in Thrissur was opened, it has been forced to shut down. The closure follows the gruesome deaths of 10 spotted deer in a midnight attack by stray dogs, indicating glaring lapses in the facility’s perimeter defences.
The incident took place late on Monday night when a pack of stray dogs breached the deer’s enclosure, sending the 20 animals into a frenzy of panic. Zoo staff discovered the carnage the next morning, with half the herd lying dead from a combination of bite wounds and self-inflicted injuries sustained in a desperate bid to escape from the dogs.
Zoo Officials have since clarified that the primary cause was not the dogs’ direct mauling but “capture myopathy,” a lethal stress response triggered by the intrusion of the dogs, leading to cardiac failure as the deer repeatedly slammed into enclosure walls in terror. Postmortem examinations revealed fractured ribs, head injuries, and exhaustion in the victims, said Dr. Arun Zacharia, Chief Forest Veterinary Officer, who led the initial inspection team at the site.
The Puthur Zoological Park, billed as Asia’s second-largest zoo and India’s first “designer” facility, spans 336 acres and features 23 naturalistic enclosures for 534 animals across 80 species. Inaugurated with fanfare by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on October 28, the park was envisioned as a modern haven for wildlife relocated from the aging Thrissur Zoo. Advance bookings had just begun for school groups, with public access slated for the coming weeks. Now, entry has been suspended indefinitely, dealing a blow to the state’s tourism ambitions.
Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran swiftly ordered a high-level probe, forming a three-member panel comprising the Chief Wildlife Warden, Dr. Zacharia, and a senior forest vigilance officer. The committee is expected to submit a preliminary report within four days and a detailed one in two weeks, focusing on how the dogs entered the premises.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has demanded a full explanation from Kerala authorities, and is launching its own inquiry into the incident. CCTV footage from the night has not been released, fuelling speculation about further oversights.
This tragedy is not isolated. Reports indicate that at least 30 birds and animals have perished during the phased relocation to Puthur over the past year, raising questions about the park’s readiness. Wildlife activists have decried the incident as a “preventable disaster,” calling for an overhaul of safety protocols. “
