Deer found dead at UoH campus, killed because of habitat loss

HYDERABAD: Another spotted deer was found dead on Thursday morning on University of Hyderabad campus. Wildlife activists allege that, due to excessive deforestation, all the animals are coming out, and are falling prey to stray dogs and poachers. The Spotted Deer was found injured after a stray dog attack near the South Campus of the university on Thursday morning. Security officials rushed to the nearest veterinary hospital, but the deer couldn’t survive the dog-bite trauma.

According to the Wild Lens group, this is the 5th death of spotted deer on the campus this year. Forest officials have taken the carcass away for post mortem. Ravi Jillapalli, founder of Wild Lens, said, “The university is clearing all the forest areas that formed the habitat of the spotted deer. As a result, the wildlife is coming out onto the roads, and the animals are falling prey to dogs and poachers’ attack. Most animals are clearly visible to the poachers as well as to the stray dogs, and these animals are becoming an easy prey. There is no need to cut down the trees, that acted as a shelter for animals, in the name of road laying. We have already lost 44 spotted deer due to dog attacks, poaching and de-hydration last year.’’

A senior forest official said, “We have sent the carcass for post mortem. Deforestation impacts the area adversely in the longer run. In any case, stray dogs have a keen smell, so they manage to chase deer. It seems only exempted species trees like eucalyptus, subabool, and casurina were felled in the campus.’’