Belagavi, Karnataka – In a shocking incident that has raised serious concerns about zoo management and animal health, 29 blackbucks were found dead at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Zoo over a span of three days last week. The zoo, which housed a total of 38 blackbucks, suffered an unprecedented loss, prompting immediate investigations by forest and wildlife authorities.

Nagaraj Balhasuri, the assistant conservator of forests in Belagavi, confirmed that multiple inquiries are now underway to determine the cause of the deaths. “We have sent water and food samples consumed by the deer to a government laboratory for testing,” he said. Additionally, viscera samples have been forwarded to experts at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru to establish the exact reason behind the fatalities. Officials noted that no other zoo in India has ever recorded a mortality rate of this magnitude in such a short time frame.

The mass deaths have caught the attention of the Karnataka state government. Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre directed a comprehensive probe and emphasized the need for preventive measures to protect other animals at the facility. Preliminary investigations suggest a possible contagious infection, prompting urgent action while laboratory results are awaited. “The zoo authorities have been instructed to implement comprehensive precautions to ensure the health and safety of all animals in the park,” an official familiar with the matter said.

An expert committee is set to be formed to examine all possible factors, including contamination in water or food, and potential transmission from domestic animals near the zoo. The committee is expected to submit a detailed report with recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. The minister also issued a warning that strict action will be taken if negligence on the part of the zoo staff is identified.

The tragedy has also brought renewed scrutiny to overall animal management at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Zoo. Just weeks prior, an aged tiger and an aged lion had died, though those incidents were attributed to natural causes. The mini zoo, located at Bhutaramanahatti, has been steadily expanding its collection by bringing in species from other parks across the country and is still in the process of strengthening its infrastructure and animal care systems.

Spanning fifteen hectares, the zoo has proposed an expansion to become a medium-sized facility, which would require at least thirty-five hectares. Authorities have indicated that an additional twenty hectares of surrounding forest land could be added if approved by the Central Zoo Authority. Currently, the zoo houses 205 animals and birds, including lions, tigers, crocodiles, and several varieties of deer and avifauna. Once upgraded, the collection is expected to increase significantly.

Expansion plans include enlarging the existing tiger safari by another twenty hectares and introducing new species such as giraffes, hippos, zebras, wild dogs, bison, ostriches, and additional deer species. The facility, which began as a nature camp in 1989 and was converted into a mini zoo in 2020, gained national attention for being the first zoo developed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Recent improvements at the zoo, overseen by Range Forest Officer Pavan Kuraning, include the creation of a reptile park, a crocodile park, a three-dimensional gallery, and a watchtower. Despite these enhancements, the sudden deaths of nearly the entire blackbuck population represent one of the most severe challenges the zoo has faced in its history.

The incident has sparked discussions among conservationists, wildlife experts, and the general public regarding animal welfare, biosecurity measures, and the adequacy of infrastructure in India’s zoos. Officials stress the importance of swiftly determining the cause of death to prevent further losses and to ensure that such incidents do not recur in other wildlife facilities.

As the investigation continues, the state government has emphasized that both accountability and immediate corrective measures are paramount. The findings of the expert committee, along with the laboratory analysis, are expected to shape future policies on zoo management and animal health protocols, not only at Belagavi but across similar facilities nationwide.