Belagavi (Karnataka), Nov 17 (PTI) In just four days, 31 blackbucks have died in a zoo here due to a bacterial infection, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Monday.
The devastating toll that reduced the population of blackbucks at Kittur Rani Chennamma Zoo to seven has prompted a high-level inquiry by the government. According to zoo sources, eight antelopes died on Thursday, and another 20 died on Saturday. Three more blackbucks have died at the facility in the past two days.
Minister Khandre reached Belagavi and held a meeting with zoo officials. Speaking to reporters later, Khandre expressed “deep pain” over the deaths and ordered an investigation to determine the source and spread of the disease among the animals.
“Prima facie it has been established that these blacks died as a result of a bacterial infection. Our officers and veterinarians are treating them,” he said. The minister said that all preventive measures are being taken so that the infection does not spread to other zoos.
“I have ordered a high-level probe to find out how the disease is spreading among black women. We have sent experts from Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru. Our officials are in touch with experts in the field,” Khandre said.
Noting that he had given instructions to save the remaining blackbucks, he said he had ordered that such incidents should not occur in the future. Comparing the outbreak of the bacterial infection among blackbucks to COVID-19, the minister said no one could predict such occurrences.
