Pune, 16 July 2025: In a disturbing incident that has sparked concern among wildlife and environmental enthusiasts, 16 deer have died within just six days at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj, Pune. The deaths occurred between July 7 and July 12 and include two male and 14 female spotted deer.
The zoo, which usually attracts heavy footfall during the summer holidays due to its rich variety of species such as tigers, lions, crocodiles, and monkeys, had a total of 98 deer in a dedicated enclosure. The sudden loss of 16 deer has raised serious questions about the management and health conditions in the facility.
The exact cause of death remains unknown, although preliminary investigations have begun. Veterinary officials have collected food and tissue samples from the deceased animals and sent them for testing. Teams from the Maharashtra Zoo Authority and the Department of Disease Investigation have visited the zoo and are conducting a detailed inquiry.
Officials suspect that an infectious disease could be behind the deaths, but they maintain that a conclusive reason cannot be given until the laboratory results are in.
According to Dr. Ghanshyam Pawar, the municipal veterinary officer, the deer died over a period of four to five days. However, he added that no new deaths have occurred in the last two days. Samples of food and other materials have been sent for analysis, and so far, there is no evidence pointing toward any serious infection.
Dr. Suchitra Suryawanshi, Deputy Director of the Katraj Zoo, said the post-mortem of the animals has been completed and their organ samples have been sent to laboratories in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Nagpur for further examination. She stated that the precise cause of death will be confirmed once these reports are received.
The incident has triggered anxiety among conservationists and the general public alike. With wildlife care standards under scrutiny, authorities are now under pressure to ensure transparency and swift action to prevent further animal losses at the zoo.
