Overview
- Eight blackbucks died on Thursday and 20 more on Saturday at Rani Channamma Zoo in Bhutaramanahatti, bringing the toll to 28 of 38 animals.
- Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre ordered an investigation and directed the formation of a high-level committee.
- The probe will assess contaminated water or feed and potential transmission from domestic animals, with legal action warned if staff negligence is found.
- Post-mortems were completed for 25 carcasses and cremations carried out, three bodies were retained for examination by Bannerghatta Zoo experts, and organ samples were sent for lab tests.
- The blackbucks were aged 4 to 6 and sourced from Binkadakatti Zoo and other places, while officials report the remaining animals, including 10 blackbucks, are currently stable with no change in feeding.