Pune: 16 Spotted Deer at Katraj Zoo Died of Viral Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Confirms Official Report
Katraj, 26th July 2025: The mysterious deaths of 16 spotted deer at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj, Pune, which had caused widespread concern, have now been officially attributed to a viral outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The findings have raised alarm across wildlife and veterinary health departments.
The incident drew immediate attention from both the state and central governments, prompting a multi-agency investigation to determine the cause. Biological samples from the deceased animals were collected following postmortem examinations and sent to high-security laboratories across the country for detailed analysis.
According to the veterinary officials, samples were examined at:
-Veterinary College BSL Lab, Nagpur
-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal
-National Foot and Mouth Disease Research Institute, Bhubaneswar
-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly
-Wildlife Research and Training Centre, Nagpur
The final reports from these agencies confirmed that the deer succumbed to a viral infection caused by foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Experts noted that the virus severely weakened the animals’ immune systems, making them vulnerable to complications.
A special review meeting was held on Thursday, July 24, at the zoo to assess the situation and prevent future outbreaks. The meeting was attended by veterinary specialists, including Dr. Vikas Lakadmal, Dr. Chandrashekhar Mote, and Dr. Durgesh Mukate, among others.
Experts also highlighted contributing factors such as:
-The monsoon season and fluctuating humidity levels
-Temperature variations
-The confined zoo environment, which may have accelerated the spread of the virus
-As a result of these compounding factors, a higher mortality rate was recorded over the past five months.
Zoo authorities have now initiated corrective measures aimed at improving the health monitoring system and the overall environmental conditions in the animal enclosures. Officials assured that steps are being taken to strengthen disease prevention and enhance the living conditions of captive animals to avoid similar outbreaks in the future.
