Brahmapur: A two-month-old female blackbuck fawn, which had strayed into a village and remained in the custody of a local farmer for around 45 days, was rescued by Forest Department personnel in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
The animal was later released into a nearby reserved forest after veterinary treatment, officials said.
The fawn had reportedly strayed into farmland near Bajraguma village under Chaudhuritikarpada gram panchayat after losing its way. Chased by stray dogs, the frightened animal was rescued by a farmer, who kept it at his house and looked after it.
Acting on information, a team from the Nuapada Forest Section, led by Section Forester E. Ganesh, Forest Guard Geetanjali Nayak and para-forest squad members Sangram Singh and Sagar Pradhan, reached the village and brought the fawn to the Digapahandi Forest Range office.
After being given food, the fawn was taken to the veterinary hospital, where Dr Soumya Ranjan Sahu conducted its preliminary treatment under the supervision of Block Veterinary Officer Dr Madhusmita Panda. The fawn was found to be healthy and was subsequently released into a nearby reserved forest on Friday.
The rescue, however, has raised questions over the Forest Department’s monitoring mechanism. Locals questioned how the department remained unaware for nearly 45 days that a protected wild animal was being kept at a private residence. They also sought greater public awareness and timely intervention for the protection of blackbucks in the area.
Blackbuck sightings have reportedly increased in the Digapahandi and Sanakhemundi areas in recent years. Previous incidents, including the death of a blackbuck after a suspected vehicle hit near Khemundi College in September 2024 and the rescue of a female blackbuck from D. Ambatha village in October 2025, has also highlighted the need for greater protection of the species.