Pune: 16 Spotted Deer Die At Rajiv Gandhi Zoo; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Identified As Cause Of Outbreak
Pune: 16 Spotted Deer Die At Rajiv Gandhi Zoo; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Identified As Cause Of Outbreak
Pune, July 25, 2025: A total of 16 chital (spotted deer) have died at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, prompting a thorough investigation by various state agencies. To determine the cause of death, veterinary experts from Krantisinh Nana Patil Veterinary College, Shirwal, and the Regional Disease Investigation Laboratory, Department of Animal Husbandry, Maharashtra, were involved in post-mortem examinations and biological sample collection.
The collected samples were sent to reputed national laboratories, including the National Institute of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Bhubaneswar, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly, Regional Wildlife Research and Training Center in Nagpur, and the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.
The test results received on July 24, 2025, from the Bhubaneswar laboratory confirmed that the deer were infected with the Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus — a contagious viral illness affecting wild and domestic animals. According to the laboratory findings, the symptoms observed in the deceased animals were consistent with the infection.
In response to the confirmed outbreak, a meeting of the Zoo’s Wildlife Health Advisory Committee was convened on July 25, 2025. The session included veterinary experts such as Dr. Vikas Vaskar (Associate Dean, Krantisinh Nana Patil Veterinary College), Dr. Vishwasrao Salunkhe (Head of Surgery Department), Dr. Chandrashekhar Mote (Head of Pathology), Dr. Prashant Pawar (Head of Parasitology), Dr. Ambore (Pharmacology), and Dr. Dushyant Muglikar (Microbiology), along with invited member and Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. G.M. Hulsure.
Experts concluded that the primary cause of the deer deaths was FMD viral infection. They noted that during such outbreaks, animals’ immunity decreases and, combined with the stressful monsoon environment, mortality risks increase.
However, timely intervention by Pune Municipal Corporation, prompt post-mortems, biological testing, and involvement of national laboratories helped bring the situation under control quickly. Experts confirmed that the spread of infection has been contained, and the health of the remaining affected animals is showing improvement.
