25 Blackbucks Tragically Die In Telangana After Reportedly Eating Poisoned Maize

Indiatimes
Indiatimes
Updated on Aug 08, 2016, 13:27 IST
Black bucks

In a tragic incident, 25 blackbucks lost their lives in Telangana after grazing on poisoned maize. Authorities are trying to investigate whether the animal poisoning was deliberate or accidental. 

The discovery of the carcasses of 25 blackbucks near an illegal maize farm in Telangana's Mahabubnagar has led to suspicions they may have ingested toxic pesticide pellets while grazing.

Black buck

BCCL/representative image

"The area has very good grasslands which serve as the ideal blackbuck habitat. The maize crop was being grown illegally on government land," divisional forest officer Chukka Ganga Reddy said.

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Black Buck

BCCL/representative image

The blackbuck was the state animal of united Andhra Pradesh, but was replaced by the chital in Telangana following the bifurcation.

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Black Buck

BCCL/representative image

Though the exact cause of death is yet unknown, the authorities, worried that more blackbucks may get drawn to the maize crop and accidentally consume the pesticide pellets, have decided to destroy the crop. The stomach content retrieved from the carcasses has been sent for analysis to determine the actual cause of death.

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