Kendrapada: Two days after mysterious deaths of 32 sheep in the village, nine more were found dead at Kalagada under Mahakalpada police limits of Odisha’s Kendrapada district on Tuesday.
Sources said nine sheep were killed and eight others injured inside the enclosure of Mahani Das, a landless farmer of the village.
Mahani, who ekes out his living from sheep rearing, said, “I had kept a watch on my sheep till 1 am. But all hell broke loose in the enclosure after I went to sleep. In the morning, I was shocked to see nine sheep dead and eight critically injured.”
Villagers have informed the forest department about the sheep deaths and sought immediate step to check attacks by the mystery animals.
In a span of two days, the animals have allegedly killed 41 sheep in the village, leaving the residents in a state of panic. Notably, unknown animals had killed 32 sheep in the same village on Sunday.
Local residents expressed their displeasure and alleged that the forest department has failed to blow the lid off the mysterious sheep deaths.
Notably, on March 12 and 13, 29 sheep were found dead at Gunadola village and Thakura Pokhari under Kantapara block in Cuttack district.
It may be recalled that Niali area in Cuttack had witnessed similar mayhem in 2017. The killing spree by mysterious animal/s was first reported in June that year. In two months time, over 250 sheep were killed in the the area. The expert team of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had then put to rest all speculation about the sheep-killer of Niali by suggesting that all evidence pointed to a wolf.
In April, 2021, mystery animals had created havoc in the neighbouring Balipatna block, killing a few sheep.
