On 11th November, 10 deer were found dead at Kerala’s newly inaugurated Puthur Zoological Park in Thrissur. The incident has raised serious concerns about the security and preparedness of the facility. The deer were found dead inside the enclosure after being attacked by stray dogs.
According to the initial investigation, a pack of stray dogs entered the deer enclosure during the night. The terrified animals are believed to have either succumbed to injuries inflicted by the dogs or died while attempting to flee. The exact cause of the death of all the deer will be confirmed following post-mortem examination.
The officials are, however, trying to claim that the stray dogs were not behind the incident. Zoo Director B N Nagaraj said in a statement that the possibility of stray dogs entering the enclosure is minimal and that a detailed inquiry would reveal what had happened. An investigation has been ordered by Forest Minister A K Saseendaran. On-site assessment was done by Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G Krishnan.
Inspection team begins inquiry
Following the recovery of the dead deer, a team of wildlife experts led by Dr Arun Zacharia reached the park to conduct an investigation. Authorities have refused to release the CCTV footage of the night of the incident.
Sources said the deer had been left inside their open enclosure overnight, as they are usually not confined to smaller kraals. The shifting of these animals from the old Thrissur Zoo at Chembukkav had been one of the most challenging phases, as spotted deer are highly prone to stress during transport.
Safety audit demanded before further animal transfer
The incident has sparked serious concerns about the safety of the facility. Experts have called for a comprehensive safety audit of the zoological park. Friends of Zoo, an informal organisation that contributed to the Puthur Zoo’s implementation, has urged the Forest Department to form a team of zoo designers to review all enclosures and ensure such lapses are not repeated.
The organisation’s secretary, M Peethambaran, also demanded that the Central Zoo Authority certify the park’s readiness before any further transfer of animals from the old zoo.
Thrissur Zoological Park at Puthur is touted as Asia’s second-largest and India’s first “designer zoo”. It spreads across 336 acres. The zoo was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 28th October. The zoo can house 534 animals from 80 species across 23 naturalistic enclosures.
As of now, only school and college groups are being allowed to visit the zoo. However, following the tragic deaths, public access to the zoo may get delayed. Furthermore, the relocation of remaining animals, including a hippopotamus, may also get delayed to ensure safety.
Stray dogs are a serious threat to wildlife
Stray or feral dogs pose a serious threat to wildlife in India. The population of stray dogs has exploded in the country over the past two decades since the ABC Rules came into force in 2001 under the leadership of then MP Maneka Gandhi. There have been reports of feral dogs killing several wild animals in forests across the country. They also attack migratory birds, kill animals like deer, eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds, and prey on small animals. Furthermore, diseases spread by feral dogs, including rabies and canine distemper virus (CDV), pose a serious threat to wild animals.
OpIndia is doing a series on stray dog menace in the country that can be checked here.
