A spotted deer, aged around seven years, was killed in a road accident on Bangalore-Mysore highway in the early hours of Thursday.
The local residents saw the body lying on the road between Hanakere and Gejjalagere and informed the Forest Department, said K. Harish, Malavalli Range Forest Officer.
The deer was trying to cross the highway when an unidentified vehicle heading towards Mysore hit the animal. The deer might have come from Malavalli, Muthathi or Dhanagur forest area.
On receiving information, the forest officials visited the spot. The carcass was burnt after conducting the post-mortem at Hanakere veterinary clinic, the officer told The Hindu .
Spotted deer is a protected animal under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, he said.
Further investigations are on, Prakash S. Netalkar, Mandya District Range Officer, said.
