Blackbuck Deaths in Karnataka Trigger Big Health Scare as Officials Warn Villages Nearby

The main worry right now is simple. Thirty-one blackbucks died inside the Kittur Chennamma Mini Zoo in Belagavi, and officials fear the same infection might move into the nearby villages. The zoo authority already sent out a caution note because this disease can spread to other animals fast. The cause looks like haemorrhagic septicaemia or lumpy skin disease, but doctors are still checking the final reports.

A Sudden Wave of Deaths Leaves the Zoo on High Alert

When a zoo loses almost its entire blackbuck group in just a few days, something is clearly wrong. Out of the 38 blackbucks living there, only seven remain alive, and even those are under watch. Experts arrived early to check the animals and collect samples because the deaths happened too quickly to ignore. The pattern itself made the staff nervous, and the fear spread outside the zoo boundary because the disease is infectious.

People in the nearby villages mostly depend on livestock. Cows, buffaloes, goats, anything herbivorous can catch these infections if they reach there. That is why the authorities didn’t want to take any chance. They wrote to the Animal Husbandry department right away and asked them to start precaution steps before the situation grows bigger.

Officials Confirm the Infection Looks Serious but Final Word Is Still Pending

The forest department shared that early signs point to a bacterial infection. They also said this type of infection does not stay limited if not controlled early. Doctors are doing examinations, and the post-mortem report is expected soon. Usually, reports confirm things slow, but because the death count kept rising every day, everyone wants a quicker answer.

The zoo team said the remaining seven blackbucks are stable for now. They are being treated and checked repeatedly. Even then, the staff know the situation can change anytime, which is why more doctors were brought in.

The Zoo Draws Thousands of Visitors, Making the Outbreak Even More Concerning

This zoo is one of the busiest spots around Belagavi. People from nearby districts and even from Maharashtra visit it regularly. When such a crowd comes daily and an animal outbreak appears inside the zoo, it raises more questions than comfort. Wildlife groups are angry and want full transparency because blackbucks are protected animals under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The fact that eight blackbucks died first, then twenty more even before lab reports arrived, shows how rapid the spread might have been. Then another death on Sunday and two more by Tuesday made the situation look worse. It all happened in barely four days, which is why conservationists are calling this a major failure somewhere in the chain.

Villages Now Wait for a Clear Warning While Experts Study the Spread

The fear now is more about what happens outside the zoo. Many villages around the area keep livestock. If the infection moves outside the gate, controlling it becomes very hard. That is why authorities are advising everyone to watch their animals closely and report anything strange.

Right now the situation is tense but controlled. Everyone is waiting for the FSL and post-mortem reports that will confirm the exact reason. Whatever the final cause turns out to be, the death of thirty-one blackbucks in such a short time stands as one of the most worrying wildlife health events in Karnataka this year.