Forest dept team probes blackbuck deaths at Kanpur zoo

A state government team headed by Principal Secretary Forest B N Garg visited Kanpur Zoo, met the staff, checked the post mortem reports and inspected the enclosure.

"Though it is too early too arrive on any conclusion but the possibility of someone setting the stray dogs free in the enclosure of blackbucks cannot be ruled out," Garg told reporters adding, it may have resulted due to the negligence of security guards.

"We are planning to install CCTV cameras to keep monitor the activities in Kanpur Zoo," the state official said.

During the inspection yesterday, a carcass of Chital (spotted) deer was found in the zoo. The Chital carcass had been buried near an enclosure.

Garg has asked the Zoo authorities about the details of the deer and ordered its post mortem, sources said adding, more animals have been buried inside the zoo premises.

According to sources, the zoo authorities denied having any information about the Chital deer.

"Places where animals may have been buried will be dug up," Garg said.

A detailed report on the killing of blackbucks will be soon handed over to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who will take the required action in the matter he said.

Thirty-one endangered blackbucks, were found devoured by wild dogs in the city Zoo on January 20. The dogs were driven away and two of them were shot dead in the process by the guards.

According to the post mortem report, 18 of the 31 blackbucks had died due to shock, whereas 29 had teeth and claw marks on their bodies.

Suspecting a foul play, the state government had ordered another post mortem of the blackbucks, besides suspending the zoo director and six others.

Blackbucks fall under the "near-threatened" species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.