Jharkhand News : The sudden death of 10 blackbucks (Indian antelopes) within the last six days at Tata Steel Zoological Park has raised serious concerns among park authorities and wildlife experts. The mysterious fatalities began on December 1 and continued until December 6, prompting an urgent medical investigation.
Experts suspect the cause may be Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) — a highly fatal bacterial infection caused by Pasteurella species — though official confirmation is awaited pending laboratory reports.
According to Dr. Naim Akhtar, Deputy Director of Tata Steel Zoological Park, out of a total of 18 blackbucks housed in the park, 10 have died, leaving only 8 surviving animals. Samples from the deceased blackbucks have been sent to the Ranchi Veterinary College for postmortem and pathological examination.
Dr. Pragya Lakra, Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at Ranchi Veterinary College, confirmed that the postmortem procedures have been completed and further detailed testing will be conducted on Monday. She stated that while the initial symptoms indicate Pasteurella infection, the final diagnosis will only be established after laboratory analysis.
Veterinary experts explained that Pasteurella is a fast-spreading and lethal bacterial pathogen. Infected animals typically show symptoms such as high fever, swelling in the throat region, severe respiratory distress, and in many cases, the progression is so rapid that treatment becomes nearly impossible.
As a precautionary measure, the zoo management has intensified sanitization efforts in blackbuck enclosures, restricted staff movement, and initiated regular health screenings of all animals. The park currently houses approximately 370 animals of different species, including birds.
Given the rising mortality rate, the Tata Zoo administration has been placed on high alert, awaiting diagnostic reports to prevent any further spread of infection and ensure the safety of other wildlife within the premises.
