Five rare deer fall prey to infection

BAHAWALPUR:

Five deer, belonging to an endangered species, died of bacterial infection at the Bahawalpur Zoo. This was confirmed by Zoo Curator Usman Bukhari on Thursday. He said that the dead deer included two female does and three bucks.

"Our veterinary doctors examined the deer’s bodies," he said, adding that test reports confirmed that bacterial infection caused death of the deer.

Bukhari said the Ariaal deer were infected and under treatment by veterinary doctors. He added that medical samples of the dead deer were dispatched to Lahore for further laboratory examination.

Bukhari added that all five deer died within a week. He said that a team of veterinary doctors were also monitoring the health of the remaining deer.

Official sources said that Punjab Wildlife Secretary Capt (retd) Zafar Iqbal took notice of the deaths and directed the officials concerned to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

Earlier, three mouflin sheep were also found dead at Bahawalpur Zoo on August 29.

Official sources said arrangements have been made for the forensic examination of the bodies of the deer and sheep.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2022.