Blackbuck Deaths at Belagavi Zoo: Officials Scramble to Contain Outbreak
Image Source: Internet
A mysterious outbreak has claimed the lives of 31 blackbucks at the Rani Chennamma Zoo in Belagavi's Bhutaramanahatti village over four days, leaving only seven alive. The district administration has taken swift action, disinfected the zoo, and warned nearby villagers to monitor their livestock for any signs of illness. A team of veterinarians from Bannerghatta has been deployed to investigate the cause of the deaths, which officials suspect may be related to a coronavirus-like infection. However, a definitive diagnosis is still pending laboratory tests. As the zoo's blackbucks are being treated, forest department teams have sprayed antiviral disinfectants across the zoo and surrounding areas. Rapid-response veterinary units have been stationed in nearby rural settlements to monitor the situation. District minister-in-charge Satish Jarkiholi has sought to reassure the public that the outbreak appears to be confined to a single enclosure and that other animals in the zoo remain unaffected. With no human infections reported so far, officials are working to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The investigation is ongoing, with a report expected on Wednesday after the veterinary team completes its examination. The cause of the mysterious illness, possibly a new or unidentified pathogen, remains unclear, adding to the complexity of the situation.
