At the Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo in Belagavi, Karnataka, 31 of the 38 blackbucks died within three days, raising serious concerns. The sudden deaths have raised serious questions about the zoo’s care, monitoring, and overall management.

The deaths started on November 13, when the zoo reported that 8 blackbucks had died. The next day, things got worse as 20 more blackbucks died. On Monday morning, another blackbuck died, bringing the total number to 31. This means only 7 blackbucks are left alive in the zoo.

Veterinarians suspect that the animals may have been affected by Haemorrhagic Septicemia, a serious bacterial infection that can spread quickly if not treated on time. However, wildlife activists believe that the zoo authorities should have noticed the problem earlier. They argue that once the first eight animals died, the zoo should have taken immediate steps like quarantining the remaining blackbucks and checking their food, water, and health conditions.

A team led by Dr. Sunil Pawar from the Karnataka Zoo Authority carried out the postmortems. Experts from the Institute of Animal Health and Biologicals and a team from Bannerghatta National Park also helped. Samples from the dead animals have been sent to a laboratory in Bengaluru, and the final report is expected within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, activists have made several serious allegations. They claim that zoo officials ignored early warning signs, did not maintain proper hygiene, and failed to conduct routine health checks. Some activists even say that certain staff members tried to hide internal reports and misled the Forest Minister about the real situation.

Veterinarians from Mysuru and Bannerghatta are now at the zoo, checking the remaining animals, food samples, and the overall environment. Environmental groups have demanded a high-level investigation and strict action against officials responsible for the alleged negligence.

Zoo Deputy Director Nagaraj said that such an incident has never happened before in their zoo. He added that one surviving blackbuck has been kept separately and is currently active. The remaining animals are also under close watch as officials wait for the final lab report. This massive loss of wildlife has sparked anger and concern among activists and the public, who want accountability and better safety measures in all zoos across the state.