JAIPUR: A naturalist spotted three dead sambars (deers) floating in a lake of Ranthambore National Park on Wednesday, two days after eight carcasses were found in another zone of the Rajasthan reserve amid fears the deaths have been caused by life-sapping heat.
The park has around 500 sambars, a protected species under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and classified as “vulnerable” on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.TOI attempted to contact the park’s field director, Anup KR, and sent him a message but drew a blank, deepening the mystery about the exact cause of the deaths.
Daulat Shaktawat, a retired forester, said: “The heat has been excessive this season. It is possible the sambars died of dehydration. They walk long distances to reach ponds. There have been instances of some dying after drinking water. In such cases, the animals mainly die because of weakness.” tnn
The park has around 500 sambars, a protected species under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and classified as “vulnerable” on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.TOI attempted to contact the park’s field director, Anup KR, and sent him a message but drew a blank, deepening the mystery about the exact cause of the deaths.
Daulat Shaktawat, a retired forester, said: “The heat has been excessive this season. It is possible the sambars died of dehydration. They walk long distances to reach ponds. There have been instances of some dying after drinking water. In such cases, the animals mainly die because of weakness.” tnn