As many as 296 deer at the Deer Park in Cuttack city would be shifted to the Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhubaneswar. The Forest Department has initiated process in this regard, an official said.
The animals will be shifted to a special enclosure located at Ambilo in the sanctuary having an area of 3.5 hectares of forestland. The shifting of the deer would be carried out in phases, said Cuttack City DFO Ajit Kumar Satapathy.
This decision was prompted by the Orissa High Court’s directive and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA)’s warning regarding the necessity of providing sufficient space and a proper environment for the animals in the park.
Established in 1981 by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), the Deer Park having 2.5 acres of area initially housed only five deer. Over time, the deer population surged to 296, causing overcrowding.
In compliance with the CZA standards, only 15 deer can be housed within 2.5 acres of land. Apart from congestion, the presence of 33-KV electric wires over the park poses a threat to the animals.
