Belagavi is facing a major wildlife health crisis after the Karnataka Zoo Authority officially confirmed that Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) — a fast-spreading and highly fatal bacterial infection — caused the death of 31 blackbucks at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo.
A high-level expert committee, led by Authority Member Secretary Sunil Panwal and senior wildlife veterinarian Dr. Prayag, inspected the zoo. After assessing enclosure conditions, death patterns, and preliminary lab indicators, the team confirmed an HS outbreak and instructed the zoo to immediately enforce strict biosecurity measures, intensive sanitation, and round-the-clock monitoring of all herbivores. Officials clarified that the disease does not affect carnivores.
Following the confirmation, the State Government has ordered a total quarantine of the facility. Forest Department officials, in coordination with other departments, are implementing emergency biosafety protocols. The seven surviving blackbucks have been isolated in a half-acre enclosure, where veterinarians are administering precautionary medication and close monitoring.
Chief Conservator of Forests Manjunath Chauhan said that containment efforts have been expanded beyond the zoo. “Disinfectants are being sprayed inside the zoo and in the surrounding areas. Village heralders are alerting cattle rearers and shepherds to safeguard their livestock by using disinfectants,” he stated. The forest department has issued an alert to villages surrounding the Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo at Bhutaramanahatti over the likely spread of an infectious disease that is believed to be linked to the recent deaths of blackbucks at the zoo.
Hemorrhagic Septicemia is known to kill infected herbivores within hours, making rapid containment critical to preventing further spread to wildlife and domestic animals in nearby villages.
Hope immediately vaccination is introduced to the live ones .