29 blackbucks die at Belagavi zoo in five days; probe points to bacterial infection

Another blackbuck at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo in the Belagavi district of Karnataka died on Sunday, pushing the toll of the endangered species to 29 in just five days. According to the zoo officials, the preliminary post-mortem report has indicated an outbreak of a bacterial disease in the zoo.

Experts from Bengaluru — Dr Manjunath and Dr Krishna from Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta National Park — arrived at the facility and examined the animals on Sunday. Based on their initial findings, the most probable cause of death is hemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), a bacterial infection. “It is usually found in cattle — cows, calves, and buffaloes — but it can also occur in wild animals, especially in deer,” doctors told news reporters.

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The doctors also took the samples of the food given to blackbucks for a week and conducted a health check-up of nine blackbucks that had survived.

“For a confirmatory diagnosis, we have collected samples. Once these samples are tested in the laboratory — within one or two days — we will send the confirmatory diagnosis here,” said one of the veterinarians.

Expanding the investigations linked to the death of the blackbucks, a pathologist noted that the lesions showed hemorrhagic patterns in all the organs. Due to these lesions, hemorrhagic septicaemia is suspected, with a 90% probability. Alternatively, it could also be a clostridial infection, which again is bacterial. However, only after processing the samples in the laboratory can we confirm which of the two it is, the expert added.

Responding to the deaths, veterinarian Dr. Chandrashekhar said samples from the viscera, kidneys, heart, liver, and blood of the blackbucks have been collected and will be sent for laboratory analysis. The report determining the cause of death is expected by Tuesday (November 18), after which it will be submitted to Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.

Suspecting HS, officials noted that specific antibiotics had already been started as part of surveillance and treatment. “There are nine remaining animal units, and they are active, so by continuing treatment, we can stop further spread of the disease,” Zoo officials added.

Meanwhile, experts said the death toll could have been much less if the infected animals had been detected early and isolated immediately. The lack of regular health monitoring and the delay in responding to the first signs of illness are being seen as serious lapses by the authorities in charge of the animals’ welfare.

About four to five years ago, the blackbucks were brought to the Belagavi Mini Zoo from the Gadag zoo. The animals were aged between five and six years of age. Of the 28 died, 13 were males and the rest were females, inflicting a major blow to the zoo’s blackbuck population.