Nine spotted deers mauled to death by stray dogs

Chennai, June 20 (UNI) In a strange incident, nine spotted deers were mauled to death by stray dogs in the reserve forest area off Vandalur, about 35 km from the city, yesterday.

Forest officials said here today that post mortem reports revealed that the deers have died due to dogs bite, though initially it was suspected that the deaths occurred due to break out of epidemic among deers.

The carcass of the deers -- seven females and two males -- were sent to the veterinary hospital of the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP) at Vandalur for post mortem, which revealed that the deaths had occurred due to the stray dogs bite.

The dead deers were buried in the reserve forest area.

On being informed by the public, forest officials found a dead deer near a private college. A visit inside the reserved forest area revealed the death of eight more deers.

This was for the first time that a large number of deers, an endangered species, were killed by stray dogs. The deers were attacked in the hind portion, which were completely torn off.

AAZP Deputy Director Debasis Jana told UNI today that the stray dogs population in the reserve forest areas had increased, leading to the incident.

''It was a clear case of hunting by stray dogs. They had hunted in packs, as all the deers had same symptoms and bite marks. The posterial portion had been eaten away by the dogs'', he added.

Mr Jana said the deer population had increased substantially in the Reserve Forest areas over the years.

Officials allayed fears of the locals about the possible outbreak of any epidemic.

UNI GV KVV VA BD1231