Overview
- The deaths occurred over three days, with eight blackbucks found dead on Thursday and 20 more reported on Saturday at the Rani Channamma Mini Zoo in Belagavi.
- Post-mortems have been completed on 25 carcasses and cremations carried out, while three bodies are retained for examination by specialists from Bannerghatta.
- Veterinarians flown in from Bannerghatta are leading a second round of examinations on Sunday as investigators collect organ, feed, and other samples.
- Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre ordered a high-level inquiry to assess possible contaminated food or water and potential disease transmission from domestic animals, warning of action if negligence is found.
- Officials say a bacterial infection is suspected, with one account citing early indications of clostridia, but authorities have issued conflicting initial explanations and the definitive cause awaits test reports.