Who's at fault? Stray dogs kill 31 blackbuck in Kanpur zoo

, Jan 21: Stray

that entered

on Sunday morning through a broken boundary wall the previous night killed 31 blackbucks, considered one of the near-threatened species. Two dogs were found feeding on the carcasses in the zoo premises on Sunday morning by forest guards who were on a routine inspection. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Rupak De said the guards immediately killed the dogs. A third dog seen roaming inside the zoo area was also killed.

The official said the dogs might have entered the zoo through a damaged boundary wall, which was being repaired and authorities tied wires across the open area in the evening to prevent unauthorised entry. De said the wire was left untied on Saturday evening.

De probed the incident and submitted a report to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the minister of forests. Yadav suspended zoo director K Praveen Rao, besides a forester, two forest guards, a keeper and a watchman for carelessness. The CM also asked the Kanpur District Magistrate and City Commissioner of Kanpur Municipal Corporation to take steps to curb the menace of stray dogs in the city.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has enlisted the blackbuck as near-threatened species. In India, the animal is protected by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

OneIndia News