The dogs attacked the deer and bit his hind legs.
Alert morning walkers, who take their daily stroll, inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) managed to help in rescuing a spotted deer, which was being attacked by stray dogs near Teen Murti area inside the park.
According to Shivaram Subramaniam, a wildlife photographer, who along with his friend Gopal Jhaveri was returning from their walk, around 7.30 AM they spotted a couple trying to shoo away dogs inside the bushes. "We had seen them from far; on reaching the spot we saw a male spotted deer sitting in the bushes. The couple told us that dogs had attacked him and bitten his hind legs," Subramaniam said, adding that though the couple had managed to chase the dog away in the nick of the time, the deer looked extremely uncomfortable and in trauma.
Subramaniam and Jhaveri immediately started contacting forest officials to ensure that he was provided treatment. "We knew some forest officials and started phoning them and told them about the animal's condition. Soon, a team rushed to the spot along with Dr Shailesh Pethe, SGNP veterinary officer," said Jhaveri.
Subramaniam said, "Because he was full grown, he was tranquillised on the spot and then taken to the hospital."
Pethe told dna that the deer had a previous injury on its hooves, which had pus in it and that stopped him from walking or running properly; this enabled the dogs to attack. "We have begun the treatment. Around 2 PM, it had started eating properly and was in less pain," he added.
The incident has once again put focus on the large number of dogs present in the park, a threat to several wild animals. The dogs also attract leopards, who then come close to the tribal hamlets to hunt them. "It's the garbage generated by the hamlets inside the park that has been attracting dogs in huge numbers. We have been spreading awareness, asking them not to dump garbage as leopards are attracted to dogs and it could end up causing man-leopard conflict, but so far, our efforts have not been successful," said an SGNP official.
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 "Sanjay Gandhi National Park deer")
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