Species Augmentation At Odisha’s Debrigarh, 115 Spotted Deer To Be Translocated From Sambalpur Zoo

Sambalpur: The Hirakud Wildlife Division has undertaken a specie augmentation programme under which 115 spotted deer will be shifted from Sambalpur zoo to Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district.

Under this programme, 12 spotted deer were translocated successfully from the zoo to the sanctuary early on Tuesday.

“The initiative is being taken to increase the population of spotted deer in Debrigarh sanctuary and reduce their number in Sambalpur zoo. The process will aid in augmentation of prey in Debrigarh sanctuary and make space for new animals in Sambalpur zoo,” said Hirakud Wildlife Division’s DFO, and Sambalpur Zoo’s Director, Anshu Pragyan Das.

The DFO further stated that 12 to 16 spotted deer will be shifted in batches during the dawn to dusk process. “An area covering 1.2 hectare has been demarcated as the quarantine enclosure, with a Saltlick, water pool, treatment care unit, equipped with CCTV cameras and Backflash cameras,” she said.

Das said that these animals will be quarantine for around 3 to 4 weeks and will released into the wild, only after they are acclimatised to the natural habitat of Debrigarh. “The site of quarantine and release partially covers both grazing and browsing habitats, grassland and forest, also the adjoining Hirakud reservoir,” she added.

The current density of spotted deer in Debrigarh sanctuary, covering a total area of 353 sq km, is 50 to 60 per sq km. This is followed by Bison 40 to 50 (per sq km), Sambar 30, and Wild Boar 60 to 70 in Sanctuary.

Earlier this year, 10 Blackbucks, and 8 Hog Deer were transferred from Nandakanan to Sambalpur Zoo. Sambalpur Zoo now awaits a Royal Bengal Tiger, and introduction of Mugger. “Glass panel walled enclosure has been proposed for Tiger by Zoo authorities,” said Das.